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Dose-dependent effects of decaffeinated coffee on endothelial function in healthy subjects

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition volume 63, pages 1200–1205 (2009)Cite this article

Abstract

Background/Objectives:

Coffee is known to contain antioxidant substances whose effects may be blunted because of caffeine that may unfavorably affect the cardiovascular system. This study was designed to investigate the acute dose-dependent effects of decaffeinated coffee (DC) on endothelial function measured by the brachial artery flow-mediated dilation (FMD).

Subjects/Methods:

A total of 15 (8 men and 7 women) healthy nonobese subjects underwent a single-blind, crossover study. Subjects ingested one and two cups of decaffeinated Italian espresso coffee in random order at 5- to 7-day intervals.

Results:

In the hour following the ingestion of two cups of DC, FMD increased (mean±s.e.m.): 0 min, 7.4±0.7%; 30 min, 8.0±0.6%; 60 min, 10.8±0.8%; P<0.001) as compared to consumption of one cup of DC (0 min, 6.9±0.7%; 30 min, 8.4±1.2%; 60 min, 8.5±1.1%; 3 × 2 repeated-measures analysis of variance: P=0.037 for time × treatment effect). Blood pressure did not differ between groups, and basal heart rate was lower in the two-cup group at baseline and 60 min.

Conclusions:

The present study demonstrated a significant acute favorable dose-dependent effect of decaffeinated espresso coffee on endothelial function. Further studies are needed to investigate the effects of chronic use of DC especially with respect to caffeinated coffee and in subjects with cardiovascular diseases.

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Acknowledgements

This study was supported in part by the Italian Ministry of Education (ex 60% funds, 2007) and by the Associazione Onlus Nutrizione e Salute, Italy.

We thank the voluntary subjects who participated in the study. This study was registered with the Current Controlled Trials (ISRCTN41583899).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Cardiovascular and Kidney Diseases, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy

    S Buscemi, S Verga, M R Tranchina, S Belmonte, A Mattina, A Re, R Rizzo & G Cerasola

  2. Section of General Internal Medicine, Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, Lebanon, NH, US

    J A Batsis

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  1. S Buscemi
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  2. S Verga
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  3. J A Batsis
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  4. M R Tranchina
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  5. S Belmonte
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  6. A Mattina
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  7. A Re
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  8. R Rizzo
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  9. G Cerasola
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to S Buscemi.

Additional information

Contributors: SB contributed to the experimental design, performed the FMD measurements, interpreted data, drafted the paper and performed the statistical analysis. SV contributed to the experimental design, data interpretation and the writing of the paper. JAB contributed to the interpretation of the data, critical revision of the paper and final approval of the submitted paper. MRT, SB, AM, RR and GP recruited participants and performed data collection and analysis. GC contributed to the experimental design, data interpretation, writing of the paper and trial coordination and had overall responsibility for the study.

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Buscemi, S., Verga, S., Batsis, J. et al. Dose-dependent effects of decaffeinated coffee on endothelial function in healthy subjects. Eur J Clin Nutr 63, 1200–1205 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1038/ejcn.2009.51

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