Effects of Caffeine and Coffee on Cardiovascular Diseases Including High Blood Pressure, Arrythmias & High Cholesterol

Effects of Caffeine and Coffee on
Cardiovascular Diseases Including
High Blood Pressure, Arrythmias & High Cholesterol
Reviewed by Meri Rafetto, RD, Theresa Grumet, RD, and Gerri French, RD, MS, CDE.
©2004 Teeccino Caffé, Inc.
Heart disease is currently the number one cause of death for both men and women in the United States
and in many other Western countries. Studies show that nine factors contribute to a significant
percentage of heart attacks: smoking, abnormal lipoprotein ratios, high blood pressure, diabetes,
abdominal obesity, low daily fruit and vegetable consumption, exercise and stress.1 Caffeine and coffee
consumption adversely affects a number of these factors which include cholesterol and other lipid levels,
homocysteine, blood pressure, arrhythmias and stress levels, increasing the risk of heart disease.
Cholesterol:
Cholesterol is an essential fat present in the diet and produced by the body. It is an important component
and precursor to steroid hormones, including cortisol, epinephrine, estrogen, progesterone and
testosterone. It is also useful in the synthesis of Vitamin D. Cholesterol is a sticky substance that can
collect on the insides of arteries when in excess. Over time, this buildup can contribute to the hardening
and narrowing of the arteries, reducing the flow of blood to the vital organs, brain and the heart itself. If
the heart’s blood supply is cut off, the result is a heart attack, or myocardial infarction. For this reason,
high serum cholesterol is a primary factor contributing to the increased risk of heart attacks.2 Both diet
and genetics are important factors affecting cholesterol levels. Other lifestyle factors such as exercise,
smoking, weight management and coffee drinking all influence cholesterol levels. Experimentally,
coffee consumption significantly contributes to variation in levels of total cholesterol.3
Homocysteine:
Cholesterol is not the only contributor to increased risk of heart attacks. High levels of homocysteine, an
amino acid naturally present in the bloodstream, are associated with greater susceptibility of developing
cardiovascular disease. Folic acid, vitamin B6 and B12 help break down excess homocysteine, but
coffee has been implicated as a factor that raises plasma levels of this amino acid.4
Arrhythmias:
Arrhythmias are changes from the normal pattern of electrical impulses in the heart, leading to abnormal
rhythms. They can be so brief as to be barely noticeable, or their length can be significant. Arrhythmias
disrupt the normal efficiency and effectiveness of the heartbeat. Heart rate rapidity, or tachycardia, is
one of these disruptions; heart rate increases have been noted after coffee consumption.5 In people who
are susceptible to arrhythmias, the safety of coffee consumption is questionable.6
High Blood Pressure:
Nearly one in three Americans have blood pressure that is higher than normal. Like cholesterol, high
blood pressure is a silent disease which can create devastating complications, including hardening of the
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arteries, kidney and heart problems, eye difficulties, aneurysms, heart attacks and strokes. High blood
pressure is widely acknowledged to be one of the most significant risk factors for other cardiovascular
diseases.7,8 Lifestyle modifications, including modifications in diet and exercise, can make significant
changes in blood pressure.9 An important lifestyle adjustment involves coffee: studies show that when
male regular coffee drinkers ceased drinking coffee, they experienced significant reductions in measured
blood pressure.10
Of all the dietary habits that people find difficult to change, coffee drinking is one of the most
challenging because it is so entrenched in cultural habits and caffeine addiction.11 Withdrawal symptoms
can involve painful headaches, nausea, vomiting, and loose stools, as well as depression, fatigue and
anxiety. 12,13 People whose health problems would be ameliorated if they gave up coffee can improve
their chance for successfully quitting coffee if they have both a satisfying alternative and a method to
slowly decrease their caffeine intake to reduce withdrawal symptoms.
The following characteristics of coffee have an adverse effect on the cardiovascular system:

Coffee Raises Blood Pressure
o
Acute caffeine intake has been shown to significantly increase central blood pressure as
well as systolic and diastolic blood pressure while people are drinking coffee at work.14,15
Drinking coffee, within three hours, causes a measurable rise in both systolic and
diastolic blood pressure, and that effect can persist even into the following day.16, 17 In
people prone to hypertension, drinking coffee may be harmful.18

Coffee Drinking Is Associated with the Presence of Heart Rhythm Irregularities
o
Coffee drinking is shown to be a predictor for the incidence of heart palpitations.19,20 Due
to its effects on raising cortisol, it increases heart rate. It is also implicated in the potential
to produce cardiac arrhythmias.21

Coffee Increases Serum Cholesterol Levels
o
Coffee drinking is linked to higher levels of serum cholesterol, with particularly high
levels noted in people who drink boiled coffee or coffee processed at high temperatures
(which includes espresso and espresso drinks).22, 23 Other forms of coffee have also been
shown to increase serum cholesterol levels including decaffeinated coffee, and studies
show that replacement of regular coffee with decaffeinated coffee does not affect lipid
levels.24,25,26 Coffee drinking also demonstrably raised blood levels of low density
lipoproteins in one lipid research study27, although results in other studies are
inconclusive.

Coffee Drinking Raises Homocysteine Levels
o
Increased plasma homocysteine increases a person’s risk of suffering from a heart attack.
Coffee drinking significantly increases homocysteine in the bloodstream, even more so
than caffeine alone. The negative effect of coffee occurs with both caffeinated and
decaffeinated coffee, and is noted within hours of coffee consumption.28 Filtering the
coffee did not affect homocysteine; unfiltered coffee as well as filtered coffee increased
homocysteine levels, and did not change plasma concentrations of the B vitamins 6, 12
and folate.29, 30
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Coffee Drinking Aggravates the Body’s Inflammation Processes
o
Coffee drinkers exhibit increased presence of inflammatory markers, including
significantly higher interleukin 6, C-reactive protein, serum amyloid-A, higher tumor
necrosis factor alpha and higher white blood cell counts. This effect is observed at levels
of 200 ml or 6 oz of coffee per day. It is suggested that this inflammatory response
contributes to the negative effects of coffee on the cardiovascular system.31

Coffee Drinking is Associated with Increased Heart Attack Risk
o
Independent of any other risk factors for heart disease, heavy coffee consumption has
been shown to increase the short-term risk of heart attack, coronary death, or acute
myocardial infarction.32 A J-shaped association is suggested for the link between coffee
drinking and risk of developing acute coronary disease: the more coffee consumed, the
greater the risk.33 A large scale epidemiological study looking at heart attacks and risk
factors showed that coffee drinking increases the risk of succumbing to an acute
myocardial infarction in people with diabetes.34

Caffeine Increases Blood Vessel Stiffness
o
Caffeine has been demonstrated to negatively affect stiffness in the aorta as well as aortic
pressure, in healthy adults as well as in adults with hypertension. Increased arterial
stiffness is a contributing factor in coronary artery disease and is involved in the process
of arteriosclerosis or hardening of the arteries.35,36,37

Caffeine Causes Mineral Excretion
o
Coffee drinking is associated with decreased absorption of magnesium resulting in lower
blood levels of magnesium.38 Caffeine reduces the reabsorption of calcium and
magnesium in the kidney, causing minerals to be excreted in the urine.39,40Magnesium is
an essential mineral utilized in more than 300 enzymatic reactions and physiological
processes including energy metabolism, effective utilization of glucose, hormonal
balance and proper heart function.41
o
Epidemiological studies demonstrate that magnesium has a beneficial effect on blood
pressure.42Deficiency of magnesium is associated with risk factors and complications of
heart failure and adequate magnesium has a protective effect on the development of
arrhythmias and cardiac abnormalities.43
o
Adequate levels of calcium and potassium are essential to cardiovascular health.44 Low
levels of potassium, in particular, have been linked to increased incidence of high blood
pressure, and potassium supplementation is recommended as an intervention to help
reduce high blood pressure.45 Potassium intake has also been linked to incidence of
strokes; specifically, low dietary potassium intake is associated with increased risk of
developing a stroke.46 Although caffeine and coffee intake does not directly influence
potassium absorption, caffeine has a diuretic effect, and diuretics increases excess
excretion of potassium as well as magnesium from the kidneys.47

Coffee Elevates Stress Hormones
o
Caffeine in coffee elevates the stress hormones cortisol, epinephrine (also known as
adrenaline) and norepinephrine.48 This elevation is present even hours after
consumption.49 These hormones are responsible for increased heart rate and blood
pressure, and a sense of “emergency alert”. Circulation of oxygen to the brain and
extremities is decreased and the immune system is suppressed.
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o
The purpose of this “fight or flight” response is to provide the body with a temporary
energy boost for intense physical activity. With today’s sedentary lifestyle, the continual
state of increased stress resulting from caffeine consumption can chronically increase
blood pressure and affect normal heart rate and rhythm.

Caffeine Interferes with GABA Metabolism
o
GABA (Gamma-aminobutyric acid) is a neurotransmitter naturally produced in the brain
and nervous system as well as the heart. It plays an important role in mood and stress
management and influences heart rate and function.
o
Caffeine has been found to interfere with binding of GABA to GABA receptors,
preventing it from performing its calming function.50 GABA’s role in stress management
is compromised in the presence of caffeine. Presence of psychological and social stress is
associated with increased risk of suffering a heart attack.51
Recommendation:
Individuals who suffer from or are susceptible to disorders of the cardiovascular system would do well
to avoid coffee. Dietary changes that include weaning off of coffee and all other sources of caffeine can
help relieve symptoms of these disorders as caffeine both increases the reactivity of the body to the
stress of everyday life as well as increases blood pressure and heart rate.52 Nutrition professionals can
support cardiovascular patients by guiding them through the process of substituting a non-caffeinated,
alkaline herbal coffee that brews and tastes just like coffee.
Kicking the Caffeine Habit:
The social prevalence of coffee drinking and the addictive side effects of caffeine can cause problems
with patient compliance. Caffeine-free herbal coffee marketed under the brand name of Teeccino® helps
coffee drinkers replace their regular or decaf coffee with a satisfying alternative. Coffee drinkers need a
dark, full-bodied, robust brew to help satisfy their coffee craving. Teeccino satisfies the 4 needs coffee
drinkers require in a coffee alternative:
1)
Teeccino brews just like coffee, allowing coffee drinkers to keep their same brewing ritual.
2)
It has a delicious, deep roasted flavor that is very coffee-like.
3)
It wafts an enticing aroma.
4)
People experience a natural energy boost from nutritious Teeccino.
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Teeccino offers the following health benefits to people suffering from heart conditions:
Beneficial Features of Teeccino
Teeccino Ingredients:
54,55,56,57,58,59,60,61,62,63

Inulin fiber from chicory

Unlike coffee, Teeccino has

Carob
nutritional value, including soluble

Consumption of water-soluble fiber from
inulin fiber, a pre-biotic that helps
carob lowers elevated blood cholesterol
support a healthy population of
in healthy people.
beneficial microflora.

Barley

Inulin improves mineral absorption

Contains niacin, a B vitamin important

65 mg of Potassium
for healthy heart function.

Teeccino is a source of potassium. In

Shown to have a beneficial effect on lipid
liquid form, potassium is easily
metabolism.
absorbed to help relieve muscle

Almond
fatigue, maintain normal heart

Has a beneficial effect on serum lipid
rhythm and blood pressure, and help
levels.
prevent strokes.

Figs

Alkaline – helps reduce acidity

Contain polyphenols, plant compounds

As opposed to acidic coffee,
that act as antioxidants.
Teeccino is alkaline, which reduces

A good source of potassium.
stomach acidity.

Dates

Gluten Free

Contains potassium and magnesium,

Gluten does not extract into boiling
important for maintaining heart rhythm.
water. Tests show Teeccino is gluten

Chicory root
free although it contains barley.

Has been shown to improve mineral

Naturally Caffeine-free
absorption, including magnesium.

No chemical processing like
decaffeinated coffee.
The Pain-free Way to Wean off of Coffee
Start by mixing normal coffee 3/4 to 1/4 Teeccino Herbal Coffee. Gradually reduce the percentage of
coffee over a two to three week period until only 100% Teeccino Herbal Coffee is brewed. Gradual
reduction of caffeine is recommended.53 Side effects such as headaches, fatigue, and brain fogginess can
be avoided as the body gradually adjusts to less reliance on stimulants.
Example: Use the following proportions if you make a 10-cup pot of coffee daily:
DAY
Regular Coffee
Teeccino
Day 1-3:
4 tablespoons
1 tablespoon
Day 4-6:
3 tablespoons
2 tablespoons
Day 7-9:
2 tablespoons
3 tablespoons
Day 10:
1 1/2 tablespoons
3 1/2 tablespoons
Day 11:
1 tablespoon
4 tablespoons
Day 12-13:
1/2 tablespoon
4 1/2 tablespoons
Day 14:
0
5 tablespoons
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