We're increasingly learning that coffee is good for our heart health, despite years of being told the opposite. Now, scientists have shown that caffeine may have a heart protective effect in patients with the autoimmune disease lupus.
Heart disease, damaged blood vessels, and the resulting diseases they cause are among the leading causes of death in the general population. In patients with inflammatory autoimmune conditions, like lupus and rheumatoid arthritis, the risks associated with these conditions are even higher.
According to the Lupus Foundation of America, lupus affects roughly 1.5 million Americans, and at least 5 million people worldwide. As reported by Brigham and Women's Hospital, the cells that line blood vessels are often damaged in lupus patients, and also slow to repair. This leads to plaque buildups, blood vessel blockages, and eventually cardiovascular disease, affecting roughly one in four lupus patients.
In the past, doctors would offer conventional recommendations for reducing these risks, like stopping smoking, reducing cholesterol and controlling high blood pressure. However, new research suggests that our morning beverage choices could also play a protective role in heart health.
Laboratory results from The Sapienza University of Rome in Italy suggest that the caffeine present in coffee, tea and cocoa may actively promote the cells that help regenerate the lining of our blood vessels.
To investigate these results further, the team investigated 31 lupus patients using a seven-day food questionnaire. After a week, the investigators measured the participants' vascular health and found that those who had consumed caffeine during the week had better vascular health, as measured by their blood vessel lining.
Besides its well-known effects as a stimulant, caffeine has been shown to exert anti-inflammatory properties by binding to the surface of our immune cells. Previous research has demonstrated a link between moderate caffeine consumption and a lower risk of cardiometabolic diseases, as well as generally better heart health.
The present study was limited by its very small sample size, short measuring period, and results based on observations rather than mechanistic proof. However, it does add to a growing body of evidence that moderate coffee and caffeine consumption may have a protective effect on heart health.
"The present study is an attempt to provide patients with information on the possible role of diet in controlling the disease," the lead author of the latest study, Fulvia Ceccarelli, said in a statement. "It will be necessary to confirm the results through a longitudinal study, aimed at assessing the real impact of coffee consumption on the disease course."
Of course, there are some people who do need to limit their caffeine consumption, for example pregnant people and those with preexisting heart conditions. What's more, if you add loads of sugar and cream to your coffee you're probably going to counteract these beneficial effects. To get the most bang for your bean, it's important to limit your intake to the recommended four cups a day, and stick with either black coffee or a light dash of milk.
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Orefice, V., Ceccarelli, F., Barbati, C., Buoncuore, G., Pirone, C., Alessandri, C., & Conti, F. (2024). Caffeine improves systemic lupus erythematosus endothelial dysfunction by promoting endothelial progenitor cells survival. Rheumatology. https://doi.org/10.1093/rheumatology/keae453
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