RESEARCH - Coffee inversely associated with coronary calcification in women

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Coffee inversely associated with coronary calcification in women

By Reuters Health

May 29, 2008

NEW YORK (Reuters Health), May 29 - Coffee consumption appears to be

inversely associated with coronary calcification in women, according

to findings published in the May issue of Arteriosclerosis,

Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology.

" Dietary and lifestyle factors are implicated in the etiology of

coronary heart disease (CHD), " Dr. Johanna M. Geleijnse of Wageningen

University in the Netherlands and colleagues write. " Coffee is an

important dietary factor, because it is one of the most widely used

pharmacologically active beverages, " they note.

While coffee has been studied along with various risk factors for CHD,

its effect on atherosclerosis has not been examined, they note.

To investigate, the researchers evaluated the effects of coffee on

coronary calcification in a population-based cohort of 1,570 men and

women 55 years of age or older without CHD who participated in the

Rotterdam Study. A semiquantitative food frequency questionnaire was

used to assess coffee intake. Electron beam CT was used to detect

coronary calcification. The authors defined severe calcification as an

Agatston calcium score of greater than 400.

The authors report that 28% of men and 19% of women smoked.

Ninety-eight percent of both men and women drank coffee. The average

daily coffee consumption was higher in men than women (approximately

five versus four cups per day, respectively).

The prevalence of coronary calcification was 39% in men and 18% in

women (p < 0.001). Results of multivariable analysis revealed that

coronary calcification in women was significantly reduced for moderate

(> 3 to 4 cups) and high (> 4 cups) coffee intake, compared with a

daily intake of 3 cups or less. The association persisted after

adjusting for tea and other dietary factors. The association was not

modified by smoking.

In men, an inverse association was also observed between coffee

consumption and coronary calcification. But these findings were not

significant.

" Coffee is a rich source of antioxidants, including polyphenols, and

may exert a beneficial effect in the cardiovascular system, " Geleijnse

said in an interview with Reuters Health. " Historically, coffee was

considered to have adverse effects on health, " she said. " However,

evidence is now accumulating that regular coffee consumption does not

increase the risk of cardiovascular disease, and may prevent

diabetes. "

" Exceptions are boiled coffee, Turkish coffee, French coffee, and

other types of coffee that are prepared without a paper filter, " the

author noted. " These types of coffee contain diterpenes [kahweol and

cafestol] that have an adverse effect on blood cholesterol, " she

explained. " At present, it can be concluded that regular intake of

filtered coffee has no adverse effect on health. "

The authors' next step is to identify compounds in coffee that could

be responsible for the protective effect against atherosclerosis and

diabetes. " Coffee is a main source of phytoestrogens, especially the

isoflavones daidzein, genistein, and formononetin, " Geleijnse

explained.

" Furthermore, it contains fair amounts of the minerals potassium and

magnesium and polyphenols, which are strong antioxidants, " she said.

" These healthy substances may offset the potential harmful effects of

caffeine. "

By Rizzo

Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol 2008;28:1018-1023.

Last Updated: 2008-05-27 15:53:16 -0400 (Reuters Health)

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