Original Article

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition (2007) 61, 796–802; doi:10.1038/sj.ejcn.1602577; published online 13 December 2006

Effect of chronic coffee consumption on aortic stiffness and wave reflections in hypertensive patients

Guarantors: CV Vlachopoulos and NA Alexopoulos.

Contributors: CVV conceived the idea, designed the study, interpreted the results and drafted the manuscript. GVV interpreted the results and drafted the manuscript. NAA interpreted the results and drafted the manuscript. AIZ and PGP collected data and drafted the manuscript. KAA interpreted the results and drafted the manuscript. CIS interpreted the results and drafted the manuscript.

C V Vlachopoulos1, G G Vyssoulis1, N A Alexopoulos1, A I Zervoudaki1, P G Pietri1, K A Aznaouridis1 and Ci Stefanadis1

1Hypertension Unit, 1st Cardiology Department, Athens Medical School, Hippokration Hospital, Athens, Greece

Correspondence: Dr CV Vlachopoulos, Hypertension Unit, 1st Cardiology Department, Athens Medical School, Hippokration Hospital, 17, Kerassoundos Street, Athens 11528, Greece. E-mail: cvlachop@otenet.gr

Received 10 March 2006; Revised 4 September 2006; Accepted 11 October 2006; Published online 13 December 2006.

Top

Abstract

Objective:

 

Aortic stiffness and wave reflections are important markers and prognosticators of cardiovascular risk. Caffeine increases acutely aortic stiffness and wave reflections. Furthermore, chronic coffee consumption is associated with increased aortic stiffness and wave reflections in normotensive subjects. In the present study, we aimed to assess the association between chronic coffee consumption, and aortic stiffness and wave reflections in hypertensive patients.

Design:

 

Epidemiological survey.

Setting:

 

Hypertension Unit, University Hospital.

Subjects–methods:

 

We examined 259 never-treated hypertensives (age 50plusminus12 years, 165 males) without diabetes mellitus, who were asked to describe in detail the type and amount of coffee they consumed. Carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (PWV) and augmentation index (AIx) were measured non-invasively as indices of aortic stiffness and wave reflections, respectively.

Results:

 

When controlled for gender, age, height, smoking status, heart rate, mean pressure, HDL cholesterol and hsCRP, AIx was found to be higher with increasing daily coffee consumption. Post hoc analysis revealed that all groups of coffee consumption had higher AIx compared to no-consumption. PWV did not differ among groups of daily coffee consumption. Each participant had 35% higher relative risk of having high AIx for each cup (150 ml) of coffee per day, and 40% higher relative risk for each 10 cup-years.

Conclusions:

 

Coffee consumption is associated with increased wave reflections, but not aortic stiffness in never-treated hypertensive patients. This finding may have important clinical implications for cardiovascular health in hypertensive subjects.

Sponsorship:

 

None.

Keywords:

caffeine, coffee, hypertension, pulse wave velocity, wave reflections

Extra navigation

.

naturejobs

More science jobs
Post a job for free
ADVERTISEMENT