Caffeine intake may improve heart health. Vascular diseases, damage to blood vessels and their consequences, such as heart attacks and strokes, are the leading causes of death in the general population.
In the case of patients with inflammatory rheumatic diseases such as lupus and rheumatoid arthritis, the risks are much higher, both because of the diseases themselves and some treatments, especially those based on cortisone derivatives.
The study was published in JOURNAL Rheumatology.
Caffeine intake is beneficial for vascular health
Until now, doctors’ recommendations for reducing these vascular risks have focused on avoiding risk factors. Recommendations included controlling inflammation, reducing cortisone medication, as well as conventional advice such as quitting smoking, lowering cholesterol and controlling high blood pressure.
However, researchers from the Sapienza University of Rome (Italy) involved in this study believe that patients could improve their vascular health through enjoyable activity. Their results suggest that caffeine intake, present in coffee, tea and cocoa, helps activate endothelial progenitor cells, a group of cells responsible for regenerating blood vessel walls and involved in vascular growth.
It is well known that a diet high in vitamin D (found in fatty fish and eggs), vitamin A (found in many fruits), and polyunsaturated fatty acids, and low in sodium, helps reduce inflammation. Scientists were also curious about caffeine. In addition to the well-known stimulating effect on the body, caffeine also has an anti-inflammatory effect, because it binds to receptors on the surface of immune cells. The effect of caffeine consumption on cardiovascular health has been widely investigated, but the results have sometimes been contradictory.
The role of diet in disease management
Researchers studied 31 lupus patients who had no traditional cardiovascular risk factors using a seven-day dietary questionnaire. After a week, they analyzed the patients’ blood to assess the health of their blood vessels. The scientists found that patients who had consumed caffeine had better vascular health, as measured by endothelial cells, which form the important inner layer of blood vessels, writes Medical Xpress.
“Our study seeks to provide patients with information about the possible role of diet in disease control. It will be necessary to confirm these results through a longitudinal study, in order to assess the real impact of coffee consumption on the evolution of the disease”, said the main author of the study, Fulvia Ceccarelli.
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Source: www.descopera.ro
