Canadian scientists have uncovered how caffeine reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease.
As a result, researchers “are developing new caffeine derivatives as potential therapies to treat cardiovascular disease” reported medicalnewstoday.com.
The research team at McMaster University conducted a series of experiments in liver cells and mice and found that caffeine lowers blood proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) levels which, in turn, lowers ‘bad’ cholesterol – low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol.
High levels of LDL cholesterol contribute to development of coronary heart disease.
Other recent research has suggested people consuming caffeine in non-alcoholic beverages in doses greater that 600 milligrams per day may reduce cardiovascular risk.
The Canadian team’s study, published in the journal Nature Communications, tested how a 400mg caffeine dose (the US Food and Drug Administration’s recommended maximum daily dose, equivalent to 4-5 cups) affected PCSK9 levels in healthy, fasting volunteers – and found it reduced PCSK9 levels by 25% at 2 hours and 21% at 4 hours.
Fasting participants in the control group who did not consume caffeine did not experience changes in PCSK9 levels at these time intervals.
The researchers are developing xanthines (similar molecules to caffeine) which inhibit PCSK9 to a greater extent, without the side-effects observable with caffeine, and study co-author Professor Jakob Magolan commented: “We are excited to be pursuing this new class of medicines – or nutraceuticals – for potential treatment and prevention of cardiovascular disease.”
Fellow author Professor Richard Austin added: “Coffee and tea drinkers have another important reason to rejoice – minus the sugar.
“These finding provide the underlying mechanism by which caffeine and its derivatives can mitigate the levels of blood PCSK9 – and thereby reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease.” AMP
