I have good news for all you coffee lovers. A prospective cohort study was done in Italy where researchers examined blood pressure in 1400 people who used self-reported daily coffee consumption. Either none, moderate (1-2 cups) or heavy (>3 cups) consumption was measured. Investigators collected office, home and 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure readings for each participant at baseline and after 10 years. After adjusting for variables, the only significant finding was slightly lower average office systolic blood pressure in heavy consumers compared with moderate or non consumers- both at baseline and 10-year follow up. Ambulatory and home readings were no different among groups at either time point. Also 24-hour blood pressure variability and the incidence of new hypertension were not different among groups. Coffee consumption is safe related to hypertension.
…regular coffee consumption does not lead to clinically meaningful differences in blood pressure or incident hypertension.
Even though caffeine can be a stimulant and is a vasoactive compound that can raise blood pressure transiently, regular coffee consumption does not lead to clinically meaningful differences in blood pressure or incident hypertension. So enjoy your cup…or two.
Reference: Trevano, FQ et al. Habitual coffee consumption and office, home, and ambulatory blood pressure: results of a 10-year prospective study. J Hypertension 2024 June; 42:1094.