Review finds Concern with Coffee Consumption in Those with High Blood Pressure

by | Apr 12, 2016 | 2011, Blood Pressure, Caffeine, Cardiovascular Health

Written by Greg Arnold, DC, CSCS. 

High blood pressure has been called a worldwide epidemic (1) and cost our healthcare system $73 billion in 2009 (2). The National Institutes of Health classify a healthy blood pressure as 120/80 mmHg or lower, a blood pressure between 120/80 and 140/90 as “prehypertension”, and 140/90 mmHg or greater as high blood pressure (3).

With high blood pressure being such a pressing health issue, a concern exists in those with high blood pressure and coffee consumption. Coffee is the most consumed beverage on earth (4) and Americans currently drink an average of 1.5 cups per day (5). The caffeine content in coffee may cause an increase in blood pressure and raise it above levels considered safe. In addition, coffee consumption might reduce the effectiveness of drug treatments (6, 7). But because some components of coffee have been shown to improve blood sugar control, improve blood vessel function, and reduce inflammation (8, 9, 10), more information is needed regarding coffee consumption by those with high blood pressure.

A 2011 study (11) analyzed five studies on the short-term effects and six studies on the longer-term effects of coffee/caffeine on blood pressure. All the studies involved a dose of 200–300 milligram caffeine to the participants (equivalent to 1.5–2 cups filtered coffee). The researchers found that within 60 minutes, systolic blood pressure (the top number) increased in amounts from 4.3% (137 to 143 mmHg (12) (p = 0.05)) to 10.3% (135 to 149 mmHg (13) (p = 0.05)) and lasted up to 3 hours after ingestion, regardless of whether the subjects were taking high blood pressure medications.

For the longer-terms studies that lasted from 2 days to 2 weeks (14, 15), the researchers found that “no increase in blood pressure was observed when coffee intake was compared with the caffeine-free diet and when coffee intake was compared with the decaffeinated coffee.”

Because of the short-term increases in blood pressure with coffee consumption which “may temporarily increase the risk of a cardiovascular event (16, 17)”, the researchers recommended that subjects with uncontrolled high blood pressure “avoid consuming large doses of caffeine”. In addition, “studies of the effect of prolonged coffee consumption (longer than 2 weeks) on blood pressure are needed” as “such evidence would make it possible to fine tune recommendations about coffee consumption in hypertensive individuals.”

Editor’s Note: “…The health effects of caffeine have been extensively studied. Short term side effects such as headache, nausea, and anxiety have been shown as symptoms of mild caffeine consumption. The long-term effects of moderate caffeine consumption can be a reduced risk of developing hepatic (liver) diseases, and cardiovascular disease. Caffeine competitively inhibits different adenosine receptors (which relax the brain and heart) . . . to make a person feel alert (but increases heart rate). A mild stimulant of the central nervous system, caffeine also stimulates cardiac muscle, relaxes smooth muscle, increases gastric secretions, and produces diuresis (more urination)…”. Source: Wikipedia, October 24, 2014.  Click here for more information on caffeine and coffee health effects.

Source: Mesas, Arthur Eumann, et al. “The effect of coffee on blood pressure and cardiovascular disease in hypertensive individuals: a systematic review and meta-analysis.” The American journal of clinical nutrition (2011): ajcn-016667.

© 2011 American Society for Nutrition

Posted January 19, 2016. r/cw

Greg Arnold is a Chiropractic Physician practicing in Hauppauge, NY.  You can contact Dr. Arnold directly by emailing him at PitchingDoc@msn.com or visiting his web site at www.PitchingDoc.com.

References:

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  3. “What Is High Blood Pressure?” posted on the NIH website
  4. “Coffee – The Market – The Economics of Coffee” posted on First Science, August 15, 2003
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  6. The Seventh Report of the Joint National Committee on Prevention. Detection, evaluation, and treatment of high blood pressure—complete report
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