Coffee is the morning beverage of choice for millions of people. The aroma, the rich flavor, and let’s not forget the nice little jolt of caffeine that comes in each cup. With every sip, the coffee lover feels more prepared to face the day. These aren’t the only attractive aspects of coffee. Here, we discuss the findings of a recent study that indicate a potentially profound chain of events that occurs with coffee consumption.
In a recent study, scientists discovered that consuming four cups of coffee could incite a cellular reaction that positively affects the cells of the heart. This study compounds on the many others that have suggested protective benefits related to the caffeine in coffee, such as a reduced risk of stroke, heart failure, and diabetes. Some have even suggested that coffee increases our life expectancy because it lowers the risk of mortality.
We may love hearing these basic facts, but it’s also nice when we can glimpse the reasons why coffee can be so beneficial to long-term health. That’s what the study from Heinrich-Heine-University and the IUF-Leibniz Research Institute for Environmental Medicine in Düsseldorf, Germany is so important. Scientists from these institutions observed more than the effect of caffeine on the body; they looked at the cellular pathways related to caffeine’s influence on the heart.
The role of research is to dig deeper and deeper beneath theories. In the coffee-and-heart saga, earlier experiments have linked coffee consumption (about four cups) improved the performance of endothelial cells, which are the lining of blood vessels. Additionally, caffeine also affected mitochondria, the literal life force of the cells in our body.
In the new study, researchers dug so deeply into their investigation that they discovered an enzyme. This enzyme is p27, which moved into the mitochondria after a subject consumed caffeinated coffee. Usually, p27 slows cell division. When it moved into the mitochondria, significant reparative functions were triggered. These functions are the same that are crucial for heart muscle recovery after a heart attack. What are those tasks? They include increased fibroblast activity which produces vital contractile fibers (for a strong heart muscle). The movement of endothelial cells to protect against cellular death, as well.
Cardiologists are always on the lookout for new and improved information that can support heart health. At Premier Cardiology Consultants in Forest Hills, Richmond Hill, and Lake Success, NY, we provide basic and advanced cardiac testing and treatments that reduce the risk of cardiac events. Contact our office at (516) 437-5600 to schedule a visit with us.
