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Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2010 Jun;19(6):1171-6.
doi: 10.1089/jwh.2009.1664.

Caffeine and blood pressure response: sex, age, and hormonal status

Noha H Farag  1 , Thomas L Whitsett, Barbara S McKey, Michael F Wilson, Andrea S Vincent, Susan A Everson-Rose, William R Lovallo
Affiliations
Randomized Controlled Trial

Caffeine and blood pressure response: sex, age, and hormonal status

Noha H Farag et al. J Womens Health (Larchmt). 2010 Jun.

Abstract

Purpose: 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.

Materials and 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.

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Figures

FIG. 1.
FIG. 1.
Change in blood pressure and heart rate in response to caffeine and placebo administration. BP, blood pressure; C, caffeine; P, placebo; PRE, premenopausal women; ERT, postmenopausal women taking estrogen therapy; HRT, postmenopausal women taking estrogen and progesterone therapy; NHRT, postmenopausal women not taking hormone replacement; YM, young men; OM, older men; BPM, beats per minute. *Significant difference from placebo; responses per week, p < 0.05.
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