Coffee and the immune system

Abstract

The effect of coffee consumption on the immune system, studied in 15 men and women, showed that the responses to PHA and Con A were about one-third lower during coffee drinking compared to a period of abstinence from coffee (117335, 99856 and 181236, 153315, P less than 0.004, 0.009 respectively). There was no effect on total T- or B-cells. There was no statistically significant change in the number of suppressor T-cells (20, 26; P = 0.1) or NK cells (20, 26; P = 0.014). Chemotaxis was higher in the coffee period at all concentrations. This exploratory study suggests that coffee intake modifies various measures of the immune function. The clinical relevance of the findings is not clear, and further studies aimed at delineating the constituents responsible for the effects observed are recommended.