The study based on observations done on 27 adults showed a 30% increase in blood flow over a period of 75 minutes compared to those who drank decaffeinated coffee. It should be noted that the test subjects were not regular coffee drinkers.
Coffee is the most consumed beverage in the world. It is the primary source of caffeine which stimulates the central nervous system. It makes the brain more alert and active. The US FDA treats caffeine both as a drug and a food additive. It is legal and unregulated in nearly all parts of the world.
Aside from the latest study, regular consumption of coffee has been linked to other health benefits such as a lowered risk of heart disease and stroke, improved function of large arteries, and improved brain metabolism in diabetic patients.
Coffee Helps Blood Vessels Work Better
The caffeine in a cup of coffee might help your small blood vessels work better, according to research presented at the American Heart Association’s Scientific Sessions 2013.
A study of 27 healthy adults showed – for the first time – that drinking a cup of caffeinated coffee significantly improved blood flow in a finger, which is a measure of how well the inner lining of the body’s smaller blood vessels work. Specifically, participants who drank a cup of caffeinated coffee had a 30 percent increase in blood flow over a 75-minute period compared to those who drank decaffeinated coffee.
“This gives us a clue about how coffee may help improve cardiovascular health,” said Masato Tsutsui, M.D., Ph.D., lead researcher and a cardiologist and professor in the pharmacology department at the University of the Ryukyus in Okinawa, Japan.
The study adds to a growing body of research about coffee, the most widely consumed beverage worldwide. Previous studies showed that drinking coffee is linked to lower risks of dying from heart disease and stroke, and that high doses of caffeine may improve the function of larger arteries.
Video: Gordon Tomaselli, M.D., FAHA, offers perspective on Coffee improving blood vessels
Study participants were people who did not regularly drink coffee, ranging in age from 22 to 30. On one day, each participant drank one five-ounce cup of either regular or decaffeinated coffee. Then researchers measured finger blood flow with laser Doppler flowmetry, a non-invasive technique for gauging blood circulation on a microscopic level. Two days later, the experiment was repeated with the other type of coffee. Neither the researchers nor the participants knew when they were drinking caffeinated coffee.
The researchers noted blood pressure, heart rate, and vascular resistance levels. They also took blood samples to analyze levels of caffeine and to rule out the role of hormones on blood vessel function.
Compared to decaf, caffeinated coffee slightly raised participants’ blood pressure and improved vessel inner lining function. Heart rate levels were the same between the two groups.
It’s still unclear how caffeine actually works to improve small blood vessel function, although Tsutsui suggests that caffeine may help open blood vessels and reduce inflammation.
“If we know how the positive effects of coffee work, it could lead to a new treatment strategy for cardiovascular disease in the future,” said Tsutsui.
RELATED LINKS
American Heart Association
American Heart Association's Scientific Sessions 2013
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