Title:Effects of Tea and Coffee Consumption on Cardiovascular Diseases and Relative Risk Factors: An Update
VOLUME: 23 ISSUE: 17
Author(s):Arianna Di Lorenzo, Valeria Curti, Gian C. Tenore, Seyed M. Nabavi and Maria Daglia*
Affiliation:Department of Drug Sciences, Medicinal Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Technology Section, University of Pavia, Via Taramelli 12, 27100, Pavia, Department of Drug Sciences, Medicinal Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Technology Section, University of Pavia, Via Taramelli 12, 27100, Pavia, Department of Pharmacy, University of Naples Federico II, Via D. Montesano 49, 80131 Napoli, Applied Biotechnology Research Center, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, P.O. Box 19395-5487, Tehran, Department of Drug Sciences, Pavia University, 27100, Pavia
Keywords:Cardiovascular diseases, risk factors, tea, coffee, dietary bioactive components, physiological and pharmacological effects.
Abstract:Background: Tea and coffee are the second and third most consumed beverages after water, respectively.
The high consumption of these beverages is due to the sensorial properties and effects on psychological
and physiological functions, induced by caffeine and many other bioactive components responsible for the protective
effects on human health generally ascribed to these beverages.
Methods: The goal of this review article is to collect the scientific data obtained from clinical trials published in
the last five years on the role of tea and coffee consumption against cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) and CVD
risk factors such as hypertension, hyperglicemia, and hyperlipidaemia.
Results: In normal weight subjects, clinical trials showed that the consumption of tea is inversely associated to
CVD risk factors or no association was found. Differently, in overweight subjects, the clinical trials and the metaanalyses
showed an inverse correlation between tea consumption and CVDs. As regards coffee, it has long been
suspected to be associated to high risk of CVDs. Nevertheless, some recent investigations reported that moderate
coffee consumption have no effect or even protective effects against CVDs risk factors. The results of the metaanalyses
confirm this trend suggesting that moderate coffee drinkers could be associated to a lower risk of CVDs
than non- or occasional coffee drinkers or no association can be demonstrated between coffee consumption and
CVDs.
Conclusion: Literature data on tea consumption and CVD risk factors support that tea consumption reduces some
risk factors especially in overweight people and obese subjects. Therefore, these results seem to suggest that tea
could exert a protective effects against CVD development. As regards coffee, the results are controversial and did
not allow to draw conclusions. Therefore, further research is needed before definitive recommendations for coffee
consumption against CVD development can be made.
