A recent report by Inside Precision Medicine [1] highlighted a study published in the journal Rheumatology [2] which confirmed the potential benefits of caffeine on cardiovascular (CVS) health. The study was conducted on 31 lupus patients with no prior CVS issues to check for caffeine action, both ex vivo in SLE patients and in vitro in healthy donors (HD) treated with SLE sera. Caffeine intake in these patients was evaluated with a 7-day food frequency questionnaire. After caffeine administration, the circulating levels of endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) were used as a measure to study the cardiovascular effects of caffeine. Further, the levels of apoptotic cells, autophagy and apoptotic markers were also evaluated using the western blot technique.
Caffeine in vitro treatment was able to improve EPC survival and vitality through the inhibition of apoptosis and the promotion of autophagy via A2AR/SIRT3/AMPK pathway.
This is not the first time the beneficial effects of caffeine have been studied. The chapter Pharmacology of Caffeine [3] in the book Caffeine for the Sustainment of Mental Task Performance: Formulations for Military Operations discusses various pharmacological and physiological benefits of caffeine comprising of its effects on cardiovascular, respiratory, renal, and nervous systems. Through its action on the adenosine receptors, caffeine has a mild central nervous system stimulant effect along with an additional anti-asthmatic action. The effects of caffeine on the heart are primarily stimulatory and are accompanied by increased coronary blood flow mediated via phosphodiesterase inhibition.
The findings from this recent study open up new avenues for understanding how caffeine might play a beneficial role in cardiovascular health for lupus patients. While these early results are promising, it's important to note that further research is needed to establish the long-term effects and safety of caffeine in this particular patient population. As always, patients should consult their healthcare providers before making any changes to their diet or treatment plan based on emerging research. The potential of caffeine as a therapeutic tool remains an exciting area for future exploration, but caution is advised until more concrete evidence is available.
[1] https://www.insideprecisionmedicine.com/topics/translational-research/caffeine-intake-linked-to-improved-heart-health-in-lupus-patients/
[2] https://doi.org/10.1093/rheumatology/keae453
[3] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK223808/
(Input from various sources)
(Rehash/Dr. Chhavi Garg/MSM)