Acute effect of coffee on arterial stiffness and endothelial function in overweight and obese individuals: A randomized clinical trial

Abstract

Introduction: Coffee is one of the most consumed foodstuffs worldwide. Studies of coffee intake in healthy subjects have shown controversial effects on vascular function. However, little is known of coffee intake effects on the endothelium of overweight and obese individuals.

Objective: To investigate the acute effects of caffeinated and decaffeinated coffee intake on the endothelial function and arterial stiffness in overweight and obese individuals.

Methods: A randomized, double-blind, crossover clinical trial was designed to investigate the effects of regular caffeinated coffee and decaffeinated coffee on the endothelium. Each subject had both caffeinated coffee and decaffeinated coffee, separated by a washout period of seven days. The endothelial function was measured by flow-mediated dilation (FMD) assessed by ultrasound. Arterial stiffness was measured by an automatic oscillometric device. Blood samples were collected to assess the lipid and nitric oxide profiles.

Results: There were 18 subjects included in the study, aged 37.4 ± 10.0 years, with an average BMI of 28.96 ± 2.42, with the majority being female (61.1%). The caffeinated coffee increased central systolic blood pressure (P < 0.001), central diastolic blood pressure (P < 0.001) and pulse wave velocity (P < 0.001), but the decaffeinated coffee did not affect these variables. However, there was a better effect on FMD in the caffeinated coffee intake group (P = 0.014).

Conclusion: In overweight and obese individuals, caffeinated coffee increased central blood pressure and pulse wave velocity but not the decaffeinated coffee. While caffeinated coffee showed an improvement on hyperemia-induced endothelial function.

Registration number of clinical trial: Platform of the Brazilian Registry of Clinical Trials under number RBR-65cxtr.

Keywords: Caffeine; Endothelium; Obesity; Overweight; Vascular; Vascular stiffness.