Caffeine and blood pressure response: sex, age, and hormonal status.
OBJECTIVE
The pressor effect of caffeine has been established in young men and premenopausal women. The effect of caffeine on blood pressure (BP) remains unknown in postmenopausal women and in relation to hormone replacement therapy (HRT) use.


METHODS
In a randomized, 2-week cross-over design, we studied 165 healthy men and women in 6 groups: men and premenopausal women (35-49 yrs) vs. men and postmenopausal women (50-64 yrs), with postmenopausal women divided into those taking no hormone replacements (HR), estrogen alone, or estrogen and progesterone. Testing during one week of the study involved 6 days of caffeine maintenance at home (80 mg, 3x/day) followed by testing of responses to a challenge dose of caffeine (250 mg) in the laboratory. The other week involved ingesting placebos on maintenance and lab days. Resting BP responses to caffeine were measured at baseline and at 45 to 60 min following caffeine vs placebo ingestion, using automated monitors.


RESULTS
Ingestion of caffeine resulted in a significant increase in systolic BP in all 6 groups (4 +/- .6, p < 0.01). Diastolic BP significantly increased in response to caffeine in all (3 +/- .4, p < 0.04) but the group of older men (2 +/- 1.0, p = 0.1). The observed pressor responses to caffeine did not vary by age.


CONCLUSIONS
Caffeine resulted in an increase in BP in healthy, normotensive, young and older men and women. This finding warrants the consideration of caffeine in the lifestyle interventions recommended for BP control across the age span.
Farag
Noha H
NH
Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA. noha-farag@ouhsc.edu
Whitsett
Thomas L
TL
McKey
Barbara S
BS
Wilson
Michael F
MF
Vincent
Andrea S
AS
Everson-Rose
Susan A
SA
Lovallo
William R
WR
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects*; D002110:Caffeine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003069:Coffee; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017698:Postmenopause / Q000502:physiology; D017697:Premenopause / Q000502:physiology; D012737:Sex Factors
D003069:Coffee; D002110:Caffeine