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Clinical Science (2005) 109, (55–60) (Printed in Great Britain)

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Effect of coffee on endothelial function in healthy subjects: the role of caffeine

Chris M. PAPAMICHAEL, Konstantinos A. AZNAOURIDIS, Emmanouil N. KARATZIS, Kalliopi N. KARATZI, Kimon S. STAMATELOPOULOS, Georgia VAMVAKOU, John P. LEKAKIS and Myron E. MAVRIKAKIS

Vascular Laboratory, Department of Clinical Therapeutics, University of Athens, Alexandra Hospital, Athens 15561, Greece

Key words: caffeine, coffee, endothelial function, decaffeinated coffee, flow-mediated dilatation, nitric oxide.

Abbreviations: BP, blood pressure; FMD, flow-mediated dilatation; NID, nitrate-induced dilatation; NO, nitric oxide; NS, not significant.

Correspondence: Dr Chris M. Papamichael (email conazna@yahoo.com).

Coffee is one of the most widely used pharmacologically active beverages. The present study was designed to evaluate the acute effect of coffee ingestion on endothelial function in healthy individuals, and the potential role of caffeine. We studied 17 healthy young adults (28.9±3.0 years old; nine men), who were regular non-heavy coffee drinkers. The endothelial performance was estimated by endothelium-dependent FMD (flow-mediated dilatation) of the brachial artery before and 30, 60, 90 and 120 min after ingestion of a cup of caffeinated coffee (80 mg of caffeine) or the corresponding decaffeinated beverage (<2 mg of caffeine) in two separate sessions, following a randomized single-blind cross-over design. There was no difference in baseline FMD values between the two sessions [7.78 compared with 7.07% after caffeinated and decaffeinated coffee respectively; P=NS (not significant)]. Caffeinated coffee led to a decline of FMD (7.78, 2.86, 2.12, 4.44 and 4.57% at baseline, 30, 60, 90 and 120 min respectively; P<0.001). This adverse effect was focused at 30 (P=0.004) and 60 min (P<0.001). No significant effect on FMD was found with the decaffeinated coffee session (7.07, 6.24, 5.21, 7.41 and 5.20%; P=NS). The composite effect of the type of coffee consumed over time on FMD was significantly different (P=0.021). In conclusion, coffee exerts an acute unfavourable effect on the endothelial function in healthy adults, lasting for at least 1 h after intake. This effect might be attributed to caffeine, given that decaffeinated coffee was not associated with any change in the endothelial performance.

Received 14 December 2004/21 March 2005; accepted 30 March 2005

Published as Immediate Publication 30 March 2005, DOI 10.1042/CS20040358

©2005 The Biochemical Society