Coffee and endothelial function: a battle between caffeine and antioxidants?
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to compare the antioxidant capacity and acute effects on endothelial function of caffeinated versus decaffeinated espresso coffee in healthy subjects.
Results Summary
Caffeinated coffee showed slightly higher antioxidant capacity than decaffeinated coffee, but caffeinated coffee had unfavorable effects on endothelial function, while decaffeinated coffee improved flow-mediated dilation (FMD).
Population
Healthy adults
Effective Dosage
Not specified
Duration
Acute (single ingestion)
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
caffeinated espresso coffee | decrease | endothelial function | healthy subjects | - | have different acute effects | #1 |
decaffeinated espresso coffee | increase | endothelial function | healthy subjects | - | have different acute effects | #2 |
caffeinated coffee | increase | anti-oxidant capacity | - | I(50) DPPH: 1.13±0.02 vs 1.30±0.03 μl; P<0.001 | had a slightly higher anti-oxidant capacity | #3 |
decaffeinated espresso coffee | decrease | anti-oxidant capacity | - | I(50) DPPH: 1.13±0.02 vs 1.30±0.03 μl; P<0.001 | had a slightly higher anti-oxidant capacity | #4 |
caffeine | decrease | unfavourable effects | - | - | are due to | #5 |
decaffeinated coffee | increase | FMD | - | - | is responsible for the increased FMD observed | #6 |
Although coffee is largely consumed by adults in Western countries, controversy exists about its impact on the cardiovascular system. We recently demonstrated that caffeinated and decaffeinated espresso coffee have different acute effects on endothelial function in healthy subjects, measured using flow-mediated dilation (FMD) of the brachial artery. In this study, we measured the anti-oxidant capacity of two coffee substances in terms of free stable radical 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl 50% inhibition (I(50) DPPH). The caffeinated coffee had a slightly higher anti-oxidant capacity than decaffeinated espresso coffee (I(50) DPPH: 1.13±0.02 vs 1.30±0.03 μl; P<0.001). We suggest that the unfavourable effects observed after caffeinated coffee ingestion are due to caffeine and that the antioxidant activity is responsible for the increased FMD observed after decaffeinated coffee ingestion. Further clinical and epidemiological studies are needed to understand the chronic effects of coffee consumption on health.