The caffeine in coffee, tea, and cocoa may stimulate cells that help blood vessels regenerate.
Coffee may have a protective effect on people with rheumatic diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and lupus erythematosus.
Coffee Properties and Vascular Health
Studies show that the caffeine in coffee, tea, and cocoa may stimulate cells that help blood vessels form. Sapienza’s team studied 31 lupus patients using a seven-day dietary questionnaire and then drew blood to measure the health of their arteries. The researchers measured the participants’ blood vessel health and found that those who drank caffeine throughout the week had better blood vessel health than those who did not drink caffeine. In addition to its known stimulant effects, caffeine has also been shown to have anti-inflammatory properties by binding to the surface of the immune system. Previous research has linked moderate caffeine consumption to a reduced risk of cardiometabolic disease and overall cardiovascular health.
Effects of caffeine on the heart
This study was limited by its small sample size, short evaluation period, and results based on observation rather than mechanistic evidence. However, there is growing evidence that drinking less coffee and caffeine may protect against heart disease. “This study attempts to provide patients with information about the role that diet can play in controlling the disease,” said author Fulvia Ceccarelli, Ph.D. “The results need to be confirmed in a long-term study to assess the true impact of coffee consumption on the disease.”
Risk for rheumatic patients
Lupus affects about 1.5 million Americans and at least 5 million people worldwide, according to the Lupus Foundation of America. In patients with the disease, the cells in the blood vessels are often damaged and are slow to repair themselves, according to Brigham and Women’s Hospital. This can lead to plaque, blocked arteries and heart disease (which affects about one-third of people with lupus).
Heart disease and its effects are a leading cause of death in humans. The risks associated with these conditions are greater for patients with autoimmune diseases such as lupus erythematosus and rheumatoid arthritis.
