Is coffee good or bad for blood pressure (BP)? This is a question that has sparked debate and garnered attention in recent lifestyle recommendations by the International Society of Hypertension [Journal of Hypertension 42(1): p 23–49, January 2022)] The study titled “Habitual Coffee Consumption and Office, Home, and Ambulatory Blood Pressure: Results of a 10-Year Prospective Study” conducted by Trevano et al. delves into this ongoing debate, aiming to shed light on the long-term effects of habitual coffee consumption on BP regulation.

Despite numerous studies attempting to clarify this relationship over the years, conflicting findings have persisted, largely due to methodological limitations and inconsistencies in data collection. This prospective study sought to provide clarity by examining the longitudinal association between habitual coffee consumption and various aspects of BP, including office, home, and ambulatory measurements, as well as BP variability over a 10-year period.

Conducted as part of the Pressioni Arteriose Monitorate E Loro Associazioni (PAMELA) research project, the study recruited a substantial cohort of 1408 individuals and meticulously followed them over a decade. Distinguishing itself by its extensive follow-up duration and comprehensive assessment of BP parameters, the study encompassed both traditional clinic-based measurements and more dynamic out-of-office monitoring. In addition, it employed a large sample size and accounted for various confounding factors such as age, BMI, smoking, and antihypertensive drug treatment.

The findings of this study provide valuable insights into the relationship between habitual coffee consumption and BP dynamics. Contrary to expectations, the study indicates that habitual coffee consumption does not significantly impact long-term BP levels, neither lowering nor increasing them. Although office BP measurements showed a slight but significant reduction in SBP among individuals consuming three or more cups of coffee per day, this effect was not observed in home or 24-h ambulatory BP measurements. Furthermore, the occurrence of new hypertensive states and BP variability remained similar between coffee consumers and non-consumers over the 10-year follow-up period.

The study underscores the importance of considering both office and out-of-office BP measurements for a comprehensive assessment of coffee's effects on BP regulation. The discrepancies between these measurements highlight the limitations of relying solely on clinic-based assessments. In addition, the study found no significant sex-related differences in the association between coffee consumption and BP, and changes in antihypertensive drug treatment during the follow-up did not significantly influence the observed results.

While the study provides valuable insights, it is not without limitations. These include potential biases associated with self-reporting of coffee consumption and the exclusion of decaffeinated coffee and other caffeinated beverages from the analysis.

In conclusion, this prospective study contributes to our understanding of the relationship between coffee consumption and BP by providing evidence of neutral effects over a 10-year follow-up period. These findings reinforce the recommendation to enjoy coffee in moderation, highlighting the need for continued research in this area to inform public health recommendations.

There are no conflicts of interest.