[Coffee and cardiovascular disease risk: yin and yang].
Many epidemiological studies have addressed the effects of coffee on cardiovascular disease. Most case-control studies suggest an increased risk in high coffee consumers, whereas cohort studies indicate no clear association with cardiovascular risk. Several aspects could be considered to explain and/or reconcile these inconsistencies. Selection bias and recall bias may explain a positive association supported by case-control studies. An inadequate adjustment for many confounding factors (i.e., smoking, poor diet, sedentary lifestyle, etc.) could also affect the relationship between coffee consumption and cardiovascular risk. Moreover, coffee contains several biologically active substances that may have either beneficial or harmful effects on the cardiovascular system. The development of complete/partial tolerance to some caffeine effects in habitual drinkers adds to the complexity of coffee effects. Variation in cup size and methods of coffee preparation may also explain some conflicting results. As it is not reasonable to conduct randomized controlled trials, it is recommended that coffee consumption be moderate in healthy people and limited in individuals at high risk.
Silletta
Maria Giuseppina
MG
Laboratorio di Epidemiologia clinica delle Malattie cardiovascolari, Consorzio Mario Negri Sud, Santa Maria Imbaro. silletta@negrisud.it
Marchioli
Roberto
R
D002110:Caffeine / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000494:pharmacology; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced*; D002319:Cardiovascular System / Q000187:drug effects*; D003069:Coffee / Q000009:adverse effects*; D015986:Confounding Factors, Epidemiologic; D004198:Disease Susceptibility / Q000139:chemically induced; D004327:Drinking Behavior / Q000187:drug effects; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D006801:Humans; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D015983:Selection Bias; D016709:Yin-Yang
D003069:Coffee; D002110:Caffeine