Coffee may not cause hypertension

Am J Clin Nutr. 2011 Mar 30. Habitual coffee consumption and risk of hypertension: a systematic review and meta-analysis of prospective observational studies. (Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI)

• A meta-analysis of long-term prospective studies involving 5 articles, 173k participants

• Habitual coffee consumption of >3 cups/day is NOT associated with an increased risk of hypertension over <1 cup/day.

• However, a slightly elevated risk appeared to be associated with 1 - 3 cups/day.

Espresso coffee foam

Food Biophys. 2011 Mar 30.

 

• Elegant review from Illycaffe S.p.A
• The first author of this article is Ernesto Illy (deceased).
• Espresso coffee foam, aka crema, comes from
• CO₂ gas generated by roasting
• microscopic oil droplets (emulsion)
• coffee cell wall fragments

Less stroke in coffee-drinking women

Stroke. 2011 Mar 10. Coffee consumption and risk of stroke in women. (Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden)

• Questionnaire study on 34670 Swedish women, followed up for 10 years.

• During a mean follow-up of 10 years, 1680 stroke events occurred.

• Advantage in relative risk in coffee-drinking women: total stroke, cerebral infarction, hemorrhagic stroke (ICH + SAH), and subarachnoid hemorrhage. (No significant advantage/disadvantage in intracerebral hemorrhage)

• Above advantages not nullified by correcting age, smoking, body mass, diabetes, hypertension, or alcohol.