Acute effects of coffee consumption on self-reported gastrointestinal symptoms, blood pressure and stress indices in healthy individuals

Caffeine intake and anxiety: a meta-analysis

The results from studies on relationship between caffeine intake and risk of anxiety remains controversial, so we conducted a meta-analysis to summarize the evidence about the association between caffeine intake and risk of anxiety. Relevant articles were identified by researching PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane library, Embase, CNKI, WANFANG DATA, SinoMed and VIP from the inception to December, 2022. Three investigators independently sifted through the literature, extracted the data, and evaluated the quality of the included studies based on predetermined selection criteria and assessed articles with Risk of bias assessment tool for Cochrane systematic reviews and analytical cross-sectional study quality assessment tool from JBI PACES. After assessing the quality of the literature, meta-analysis was performed using Revman 5.4 and Stata 12.0. Data were obtained from eight articles, and 546 participants from 14 studies in eight articles from healthy populations were included in the caffeine-anxiety analyses. As the scales used to assess anxiety vary in the literature, we chose standardized mean difference as the outcome indicator. In terms of overall effect, the results of the meta-analysis showed that caffeine intake increased the risk of anxiety [SMD = 0.94, 95% Cl = (0.28, 1.60), p < 0.05]. After suspecting that dose size might be responsible for the heterogeneity by sensitivity analysis, we performed subgroup analysis according to dose size and found that low-dose caffeine intake moderately increased the risk of anxiety [SMD = 0.61, 95%Cl = (0.42, 0.79), p < 0.05], whereas high-dose caffeine intake had a highly significant increase in the risk of anxiety [SMD = 2.86, 95%Cl = (2.50, 3.22), p < 0.05]. The results confirm that caffeine intake is associated with an elevated risk of anxiety in healthy individuals without psychiatric disorders, especially when the intake dose is greater than 400 mg.

International society of sports nutrition position stand: coffee and sports performance

Based on review and critical analysis of the literature regarding the contents and physiological effects of coffee related to physical and cognitive performance conducted by experts in the field and selected members of the International Society of Sports Nutrition (ISSN), the following conclusions represent the official Position of the Society:(1) Coffee is a complex matrix of hundreds of compounds. These are consumed with broad variability based upon serving size, bean type (e.g. common Arabica vs. Robusta), and brew method (water temperature, roasting method, grind size, time, and equipment).(2) Coffee's constituents, including but not limited to caffeine, have neuromuscular, antioxidant, endocrine, cognitive, and metabolic (e.g. glucose disposal and vasodilation) effects that impact exercise performance and recovery.(3) Coffee's physiologic effects are influenced by dose, timing, habituation to a small degree (to coffee or caffeine), nutrigenetics, and potentially by gut microbiota differences, sex, and training status.(4) Coffee and/or its components improve performance across a temporal range of activities from reaction time, through brief power exercises, and into the aerobic time frame in most but not all studies. These broad and varied effects have been demonstrated in men (mostly) and in women, with effects that can differ from caffeine ingestion, per se. More research is needed.(5) Optimal dosing and timing are approximately two to four cups (approximately 473-946 ml or 16-32 oz.) of typical hot-brewed or reconstituted instant coffee (depending on individual sensitivity and body size), providing a caffeine equivalent of 3-6 mg/kg (among other components such as chlorogenic acids at approximately 100-400 mg per cup) 60 min prior to exercise.(6) Coffee has a history of controversy regarding side effects but is generally considered safe and beneficial for healthy, exercising individuals in the dose range above.(7) Coffee can serve as a vehicle for other dietary supplements, and it can interact with nutrients in other foods.(8) A dearth of literature exists examining coffee-specific ergogenic and recovery effects, as well as variability in the operational definition of "coffee," making conclusions more challenging than when examining caffeine in its many other forms of delivery (capsules, energy drinks, "pre-workout" powders, gum, etc.).

Coffee consumption, health benefits and side effects: a narrative review and update for dietitians and nutritionists

Coffee is one of the most popular beverages worldwide; however, its impact on health outcomes and adverse effects is not fully understood. The current review aims to establish an update about the benefits of coffee consumption on health outcomes highlighting its side effects, and finally coming up with an attempt to provide some recommendations on its doses. A literature review using the PubMed/Medline database was carried out and the data were summarized by applying a narrative approach using the available evidence based on the literature. The main findings were the following: first, coffee may contribute to the prevention of inflammatory and oxidative stress-related diseases, such as obesity, metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes; second, coffee consumption seems to be associated with a lower incidence of several types of cancer and with a reduction in the risk of all-cause mortality; finally, the consumption of up to 400 mg/day (1-4 cups per day) of caffeine is safe. However, the time gap between coffee consumption and some drugs should be taken into account in order to avoid interaction. However, most of the data were based on cross-sectional or/and observational studies highlighting an association of coffee intake and health outcomes; thus, randomized controlled studies are needed in order to identify a causality link.

Genç yetişkinlerde elektrofizyolojik ve hemodinamik parametreler üzerine kafeinli içeceklerin akut etkileri

Purpose: The consumption of caffeinated beverages has significantly increased among young people in recent years. The objective of the study is to investigate the acute effects of caffeinated beverages on electrocardiographic and hemodynamic parameters of young adults. Materials and Methods: Study was designed as a non-randomized, non-placebo controlled, three-arm parallel assignment. It was conducted on 56 individuals selected from a pool of students enrolled at Aydın Adnan Menderes University. Energy drink, coffee, cola and control groups were determined according to the results of the applicant acceptance questionnaire. Blood pressure and electrocardiogram were measured before and after consuming the drinks at 30 minutes and 60 minutes. Heart rate variability was detected from electrocardiogram signal and investigated by linear analysis. Results: All caffeinated drinks increased the blood pressure. Only, heart rate was increased by energy drink and cola. There was a small increment in root-mean square differences of successive R-R intervals and the number of times successive heartbeat intervals exceed 50ms (NN50) values in coffee group. High frequency (HF) values were increased some for coffee and cola groups. But, low frequency (LF) and LF/HF values were decreased. These alterations were statistically significant for coffee group. PR interval and QRS complex did not alter, however, QTc interval was lower in energy drink and cola groups. Conclusion: Caffeinated beverage consumption has the potential to induce adverse effects on cardiovascular system of young adults. Coffee appears to be more prominent than energy drink and cola.

The acute effects of coffee consumption on blood glucose and it’s relationship with serum cortisol and insulin in females

This research was aimed at analyzing the acute effects of Arabica black coffee consumption on blood glucose, insulin, and serum cortisol levels, as well as determining the pharmacological effects of black coffee as an antihyperglycemic. A randomized control trial with healthy female subjects was used in this study. There were 20 volunteers in total: 9 as the control group and 11 as the trial group. The treatment included brewing 10 grams of Gayo Arabica black coffee powder with 150 ml of boiling water. Blood glucose, insulin, and cortisol levels were measured twice, before and after 60 minutes of coffee consumption. An independent sample t-test (p &lt; 0.05), Pearson correlation test (p &lt; 0.05), and simple linear correlation test (p &lt; 0.05) were used to analyze the data. Blood glucose levels and serum cortisol levels decreased significantly after coffee consumption in the trial group (p = 0.002* and p = 0.001*). There was no significant negative correlation between glucose and insulin levels (r = -0.122; p = 0.721). On the other hand, there was a significant positive correlation between cortisol levels and blood glucose (r = 0.651; p = 0.002*). In conclusion, a single cup of Gayo Arabica black coffee reduces blood sugar and serum cortisol levels, but does not increase serum insulin levels. Blood glucose levels correlate positively with serum cortisol levels in healthy female.

Sources of automatic office blood pressure measurement error: a systematic review

OBJECTIVE

Accurate and reliable blood pressure (BP) measurement is important for the prevention and treatment of hypertension. The oscillometric-based automatic office blood pressure measurement (AOBPM) is widely used in hospitals and clinics, but measurement errors are common in BP measurements. There is a lack of systematic review of the sources of measurement errors.

APPROACH

A systematic review of all existing research on sources of AOBPM errors. A search strategy was designed in six online databases, and all the literature published before October 2021 was selected. Those studies that used the AOBPM device to measure BP from the upper arm of subjects were included.

MAIN RESULTS

A total of 1365 studies were screened, and 224 studies were included in this final review. They investigated 22 common error sources with clinical AOBPM. Regarding the causes of BP errors, this review divided them into the following categories: the activities before measurement, patient's factors, measurement environment, measurement procedure, and device settings. 13 sources caused increased systolic and diastolic BP (SBP and DBP), 2 sources caused the decrease in SBP and DBP, only 1 source had no significant effect on BPs, and the other errors had a non-uniform effect (either increase or decrease in BPs). The error ranges for SBP and DBP were -14 to 33 mmHg and -6 to 19 mmHg, respectively.

SIGNIFICANCE

The measurement accuracy of AOBPM is susceptible to the influence of measurement factors. Interpreting BP readings need to be treated with caution in clinical measurements. This review made comprehensive evidence for the need for standardized BP measurements and provided guidance for clinical practitioners when measuring BP with AOBPM devices.

Effect of Dewaxed Coffee on Gastroesophageal Symptoms in Patients with GERD: A Randomized Pilot Study

Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) is multifactorial pathogenesis characterized by the abnormal reflux of stomach contents into the esophagus. Symptoms are worse after the ingestion of certain foods, such as coffee. Hence, a randomized pilot study conducted on 40 Italian subjects was assessed to verify the effect of standard (SC) and dewaxed coffee (DC) consumption on gastroesophageal reflux symptoms and quality of life in patients with gastrointestinal diseases. The assessment of patient diaries highlighted a significant percentage reduction of symptoms frequency when consuming DC and a significant increase in both heartburn-free and regurgitation-free days. Consequentially, patients had a significant increase of antacid-free days during the DC assumption. Moreover, the polyphenolic profile of coffee pods was ascertained through UHPLC-Q-Orbitrap HRMS analysis. Chlorogenic acids (CGAs) were the most abundant investigated compounds with a concentration level ranging between 7.316 (DC) and 6.721 mg/g (SC). Apart from CGAs, caffeine was quantified at a concentration level of 5.691 mg/g and 11.091 for DC and SC, respectively. While still preliminary, data obtained from the present pilot study provide promising evidence for the efficacy of DC consumption in patients with GERD. Therefore, this treatment might represent a feasible way to make coffee more digestible and better tolerated.

Effects of Coffee on the Gastro-Intestinal Tract: A Narrative Review and Literature Update

The objective of the present research was to review the state of the art on the consequences of drinking coffee at the different levels of the gastrointestinal tract. At some steps of the digestive process, the effects of coffee consumption seem rather clear. This is the case for the stimulation of gastric acid secretion, the stimulation of biliary and pancreatic secretion, the reduction of gallstone risk, the stimulation of colic motility, and changes in the composition of gut microbiota. Other aspects are still controversial, such as the possibility for coffee to affect gastro-esophageal reflux, peptic ulcers, and intestinal inflammatory diseases. This review also includes a brief summary on the lack of association between coffee consumption and cancer of the different digestive organs, and points to the powerful protective effect of coffee against the risk of hepatocellular carcinoma. This review reports the available evidence on different topics and identifies the areas that would most benefit from additional studies.

A cross-sectional study to assess job strain of emergency healthcare workers by Karasek questionnaire: The SEEK study

BACKGROUND

Emergency healthcare workers (eHCWs) are particularly at risk of stress, but data using the gold standard questionnaire of Karasek are scarce. We assessed the level of stress of eHCWs and aimed to compare it with the general population.

METHODS

This is a cross-sectional nationwide study in French Emergency Departments (EDs), using the job-content questionnaire of Karasek, compared with the 25,000 answers in the French general population (controls from the SUMER study). The descriptions of job demand, job control, and social support were described as well as the prevalence of job strain and isostrain. Putative factors were searched using mixed-method analysis.

RESULTS

A total of 166 eHCWs (37.9 ± 10.5 years old, 42% men) from five French EDs were included: 53 emergency physicians and 104 emergency paramedics, compared to 25,000 workers with other occupations. Job demand was highest for physicians (28.3 ± 3.3) and paramedics (25.9 ± 3.8), compared to controls (36.0 ± 7.2; p < 0.001). Job control was the lowest for physicians (61.2 ± 5.8) and paramedics (59.1 ± 6.8), compared to controls (70.4 ± 11.7; p < 0.001). Mean social support did not differ between groups (23.6 ± 3.4 for physicians, 22.6 ± 2.9 for paramedics, and 23.7 ± 3.6 for controls). The prevalence of job strain was massively higher for physicians (95.8%) and paramedics (84.8%), compared to controls (23.9%; p < 0.001), as well as for isostrain (45.1% for physicians, 56.8% for paramedics, and 14.3% for controls, p < 0.001). We did not find any significant impact of sociodemographic characteristics on job control, job demand, or social support.

CONCLUSION

Emergency healthcare workers have a dramatic rate of job strain, necessitating urgent promotion of policy to take care of them.

Connections between Different Sports and Ergogenic Aids-Focusing on Salivary Cortisol and Amylase

Athletes are exposed to a tremendous amount of stress, both physically and mentally, when performing high intensity sports with frequent practices, pushing numerous athletes into choose to use ergogenic aids such as caffeine or β-alanine to significantly improve their performance and ease the stress and pressure that is put onto the body. The beneficial or even detrimental effects of these so-called ergogenic aids can be appreciated through the use of numerous diagnostic tools that can analyze various body fluids. In the recent years, saliva samples are gaining more ground in the field of diagnostic as it is a non-invasive procedure, contains a tremendous amount of analytes that are subject to pathophysiological changes caused by diseases, exercises, fatigue as well as nutrition and hydration. Thus, we describe here the current progress regarding potential novel biomarkers for stress and physical activity, salivary α-amylase and salivary cortisol, as well as their use and measurement in combination with different already-known or new ergogenic aids.

Perceptual and Physiological Responses to Carbohydrate and Menthol Mouth-Swilling Solutions: A Repeated Measures Cross-Over Preliminary Trial

Carbohydrate and menthol mouth-swilling have been used to enhance exercise performance in the heat. However, these strategies differ in mechanism and subjective experience. Participants (n = 12) sat for 60 min in hot conditions (35 °C; 15 ± 2%) following a 15 min control period, during which the participants undertook three 15 min testing blocks. A randomised swill (carbohydrate; menthol; water) was administered per testing block (one swill every three minutes within each block). Heart rate, tympanic temperature, thermal comfort, thermal sensation and thirst were recorded every three minutes. Data were analysed by ANOVA, with carbohydrate intake controlled for via ANCOVA. Small elevations in heart rate were observed after carbohydrate (ES: 0.22 ± 90% CI: −0.09–0.52) and water swilling (0.26; −0.04–0.54). Menthol showed small improvements in thermal comfort relative to carbohydrate (−0.33; −0.63–0.03) and water (−0.40; from −0.70 to −0.10), and induced moderate reductions in thermal sensation (−0.71; from −1.01 to −0.40 and −0.66; from −0.97 to −0.35, respectively). Menthol reduced thirst by a small to moderate extent. These effects persisted when controlling for dietary carbohydrate intake. Carbohydrate and water may elevate heart rate, whereas menthol elicits small improvements in thermal comfort, moderately improves thermal sensation and may mitigate thirst; these effects persist when dietary carbohydrate intake is controlled for.

Effects of a non-caffeinated coffee substitute on functional dyspepsia

BACKGROUND

Functional dyspepsia (FD) is a debilitating functional gastrointestinal disorder characterized by early satiety, post-prandial fullness or epigastric pain related to meals. FD is diagnosed when organic etiology for the symptoms is not identified. It is widely believed that FD may be linked to the consumption of certain foods. In a clinical setting, it is often recommended that coffee be avoided in patients with FD. The lack of clinical research on non-caffeinated coffee substitute's effects on functional dyspepsia (FD) prompted the need to explore the topic clinically.

AIM

The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of drinking non-caffeinated coffee substitute on FD symptoms in order to determine if recommending a non-caffeinated coffee substitute in patients with pre-existing FD relieves the patient's symptoms.

METHODS

This is a quantitative study with 51 patients diagnosed with FD. A patient-reported outcomes (PRO) instrument called the Gastrointestinal Symptom Rating Scale (GSRS) was used to determine the results. After the participants enrolled, they completed the pre-GSRS questionnaire. The participants were instructed to stop their daily consumption of caffeinated and/or decaffeinated coffee and replace it with the non-caffeinated coffee substitute. After one month, the participants returned to the physician's office to complete a post intervention GSRS questionnaire.

RESULTS

The Wilcoxon Signed Rank test was used to test for significant change across time. Our study showed a statistically significant decrease from pre-intervention to post-intervention for functional dyspepsia symptoms, (3.67-1.00), p < 0.001.

CONCLUSION

To our knowledge, this study is the first to evaluate whether removing coffee from a person's diet and replacing it with a non-caffeinated coffee substitute would result in the improvement of functional dyspepsia symptoms. Our results indicate that replacing a caffeinated or decaffeinated coffee with a non-caffeinated coffee substitute decreases FD symptoms.

Characterization of Gastrointestinal Symptom Type and Severity in Parkinson's Disease: A Case-Control Study in an Australian Cohort

Background

While constipation is a well-known non-motor symptom which may precede the onset of the classical motor symptoms of PD, there have been few comprehensive studies of gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms in people with PD (PwP).

Objectives

To investigate the spectrum of GI symptoms in an Australian PwP cohort and their relationship to use of anti-parkinsonian medications dietary habits and smoking.

Methods

The prevalence and severity of GI symptoms were compared in a group of 163 PwP and 113 healthy control subjects using the Gastrointestinal Symptom Rating Scale (GSRS). Corrected linear regression models were used to determine differences between PwP and controls, and to investigate the influence of different classes of anti-Parkinsonian medications.

Results

PwP reported a greater frequency of constipation and GI-associated illnesses when compared to healthy controls. Total GSRS scores (P < 0.0001), upper GI symptoms (P < 0.0001), and hypoactive GI Symptoms (P < 0.0001) were all significantly greater in the PD cohort than controls. Further analyses revealed a positive association between the use of anti-Parkinsonian medications and total GSRS scores (P < 0.001), as well as upper GI symptoms (P < 0.001) and hypoactive GI function (P < 0.001).

Conclusions

This study illustrates the frequency and array of GI symptoms in a large PD cohort. The findings indicate that anti-parkinsonian medications play an important role in the presentation and development of GI symptoms.

Effects of Coffee and Its Components on the Gastrointestinal Tract and the Brain-Gut Axis

Coffee is one of the most popular beverages consumed worldwide. Roasted coffee is a complex mixture of thousands of bioactive compounds, and some of them have numerous potential health-promoting properties that have been extensively studied in the cardiovascular and central nervous systems, with relatively much less attention given to other body systems, such as the gastrointestinal tract and its particular connection with the brain, known as the brain–gut axis. This narrative review provides an overview of the effect of coffee brew; its by-products; and its components on the gastrointestinal mucosa (mainly involved in permeability, secretion, and proliferation), the neural and non-neural components of the gut wall responsible for its motor function, and the brain–gut axis. Despite in vitro, in vivo, and epidemiological studies having shown that coffee may exert multiple effects on the digestive tract, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antiproliferative effects on the mucosa, and pro-motility effects on the external muscle layers, much is still surprisingly unknown. Further studies are needed to understand the mechanisms of action of certain health-promoting properties of coffee on the gastrointestinal tract and to transfer this knowledge to the industry to develop functional foods to improve the gastrointestinal and brain–gut axis health.

Dietary Habits of Women with Gynecological Cancer before, during and after Treatment: A Long-Term Prospective Cohort Study

BACKGROUND AND AIM

Over 21,000 new cases of gynecological cancer are diagnosed annually in the United Kingdom. There is evidence of cancer patients altering their eating habits before and during treatment. Some women with gynecological cancer make conscious decisions to change their diet as self-management for their cancer symptoms and to adopt a healthier lifestyle. Little is known about the impact of treatment on dietary habits. This study aimed to identify and describe the dietary habits of women with gynecological cancer before, during and after treatment.

METHODS

This was a longitudinal prospective cohort study using seven-day food diaries to collect dietary intake data before treatment and up to two years after gynecological cancer treatment. Nutritics© software was used for analysis of the diaries. A general linear mixed model was used for the statistical analysis, adjusted for multiple comparisons.

RESULTS

15 women with gynecological cancer participated; 69 food diaries were analyzed. There were no statistically significant changes in dietary habits or weight for this cohort during the two-year follow-up, except for caffeine intake which increased at 2 years (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Despite the importance of maintaining a healthy dietary intake and weight after cancer treatment, participants' diets did not change.

Non-linear analysis of heart rate variability for evaluating the acute effects of caffeinated beverages in young adults

Caffeinated beverages are the most consumed substances in the world. High rate of uptake of these beverages leads to various cardiovascular disorders ranging from palpitations to coronary failure. The objective of the study is to ascertain how the complexity parameters of heart rate variability are affected by acute consumption of caffeinated beverages in young adults.Electrocardiogram measurements were performed before consuming drinks. After consuming the drinks, measurements were done again at 30 minutes and 60 minutes. Heart rate variability signals were acquired from electrocardiogram signals. Also, the signals were reconstructed in the phase space and largest Lyapunov exponent, correlation dimension, approximate entropy, and detrended fluctuation analysis values were calculated.Heart rate increased for energy drink and cola groups but not in coffee group. Non-linear parameter values of energy drink, coffee, and cola group are increased within 60 minutes after drink consumption. This change is statistically significant just for energy drink group.Energy drink consumption increases the complexity of the cardiovascular system in young adults significantly. Coffee and cola consumption have no significant effect on the non-linear parameters of heart rate variability.

Short term effects of coffee components consumption on gut microbiota in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver and diabetes: A pilot randomized placebo-controlled, clinical trial

The aim of this study was to determine the effects of caffeine and chlorogenic acid supplementation on gut microbiota, and metabolic disturbances in patients with NAFLD and diabetes. In this randomized, placebo-controlled, clinical trial, 26 patients with diabetes and NAFLD were randomly assigned to four groups to receive either 200 mg caffeine plus 200 mg chlorogenic acid (CFCA), or 200 mg caffeine plus 200 mg placebo (starch) (CFPL), or 200 mg chlorogenic acid plus 200 mg placebo (CAPL), or 200 mg placebo plus 200 mg placebo (PLPL) for 12 weeks. After 3 months of supplementation, patients in the intervention groups showed a significant decrease in body weight (CFCA group =-3.69 kg; CFPL group=-0.7kg; CAPL group=-0.43kg; PLPL group=0.26 kg) (p=0.004). Weight reduced significantly more in CFCA group compared to all other three groups (p=0.005 for PLPL; p=0.023 for CAPL; and p=0.031 for CFPL). Although the number of gut Bifidobacteria increased in CFCA group, there were no statistically significant differences within and between the groups in any of bacteria numbers. In conclusion, our study showed that 12 weeks consumption of 200 mg/day caffeine plus 200 mg/day chlorogenic acid is effective in reduction of weight in patients with NAFLD and diabetes which might be at least partially through the rise in gut Bifidobacteria. This pilot study shed a light on the pathway of future clinical trials assessing the effects of coffee consumption in these patients. This trial has been registered at clinicaltrial.gov with registration number of NCT02929901.

Concentration of Micro- and Macro-Elements in Green and Roasted Coffee: Influence of Roasting Degree and Risk Assessment for the Consumers

The aim of the present study was to determine concentrations of 15 macro- and micro-elements in 10 commercially available plantation Arabica coffee brands. The elemental concentration was studied in 50 samples of green and roasted coffee beans of various roasting degrees and their infusions. There were four different roasting degrees: City + (C+), Full city (FC), Full city ++ (FC++), and Dark (D). The attention was given to the impact of the roasting process on the elemental composition. Statistically significant differences were found between the green coffee beans and the different roasting degrees in both macro- and micro-elements. The results showed that roasting degrees affected the concentration of elements in resulting infusions. Dietary intakes for macro- and micro-elements based on RDA and PTWI (in the case of Al) were calculated. Based on the RDA values for macro- and micro-elements, it can be concluded that coffee infusions are not an important source of elements in nutrition. In the case of Al, consumption of coffee was considered non-hazardous based on the PTWI value.

Associations between Health Behaviors and Factors on Markers of Healthy Psychological and Physiological Functioning: a Daily Diary Study

Background

Cross-sectional and experimental knowledge highlight the contribution of various health-promoting behaviors, such as physical activity, regular sleep, and healthy nutrition to mental and physical health. Beyond these well-studied lifestyle behaviors, music listening and perceived respect in social interactions are just recently proposed everyday life experiences, which may act as health-promoting factors.

Purpose

This study tested the simultaneous contribution of several health-promoting behaviors and factors and examined listening to music and positive social interaction by means of perceived respect as new potentially preventive and health-promoting behaviors and factors using an ambulatory assessment design.

Methods

Seventy-seven young healthy adults (38 women, 23.9 ± 4.5 years) completed surveys on their psychological state (i.e., mood, stress, and fatigue) five times a day for four consecutive days. A saliva sample was collected with each data entry to explore the physiological stress markers salivary cortisol, alpha-amylase, and flow rate as further outcome variables. As predictors, perceived respect, self-reported physical activity, the sleep’s restfulness, daily coffee, alcohol, vegetable/fruit consumption, and music listening behavior were recorded.

Results

Overall, restful sleep, mean daily perceived respect, and listening to music were most clearly associated with more positive psychological states, that is, better mood and lower fatigue and perceived stress. Associations with daily alcohol, coffee, and vegetable/fruit consumption appeared rather minor. While perceived respect scores were associated with lower daily cortisol output, coffee consumption was positively related to daily cortisol and alpha-amylase. Self-reported physical activity was unrelated to either outcome measure.

Conclusions

These findings provide important insights regarding potential resources of health (i.e., music and respect), their covariation, and which psycho-physiological mechanisms may underlie the links between health factors and well-being. Findings also have implications for the development of interventions aiming to increase resilience and foster health. Here, strategies for improving sleep quality, the use of music, and approaches that emphasize mutual respect and appreciation appear useful additions.

Effects of strategic early-morning caffeine gum administration on association between salivary alpha-amylase and neurobehavioural performance during 50 h of sleep deprivation

Self-assessment is the most common method for monitoring performance and safety in the workplace. However, discrepancies between subjective and objective measures have increased interest in physiological assessment of performance. In a double-blind placebo-controlled study, 23 healthy adults were randomly assigned to either a placebo (n = 11; 5 F, 6 M) or caffeine condition (n = 12; 4 F, 8 M) while undergoing 50 h (i.e. two days) of total sleep deprivation. In previous work, higher salivary alpha-amylase (sAA) levels were associated with improved psychomotor vigilance and simulated driving performance in the placebo condition. In this follow-up article, the effects of strategic caffeine administration on the previously reported diurnal profiles of sAA and performance, and the association between sAA and neurobehavioural performance were investigated. Participants were given a 10 h baseline sleep opportunity (monitored via standard polysomnography techniques) prior to undergoing sleep deprivation (total sleep time: placebo = 8.83 ± 0.48 h; caffeine = 9.01 ± 0.48 h). During sleep deprivation, caffeine gum (200 mg) was administered at 01:00 h, 03:00 h, 05:00 h, and 07:00 h to participants in the caffeine condition (n = 12). This strategic administration of caffeine gum (200 mg) has been shown to be effective at maintaining cognitive performance during extended wakefulness. Saliva samples were collected, and psychomotor vigilance and simulated driving performance assessed at three-hour intervals throughout wakefulness. Caffeine effects on diurnal variability were compared with previously reported findings in the placebo condition (n = 11). The impact of caffeine on the circadian profile of sAA coincided with changes in neurobehavioural performance. Higher sAA levels were associated with improved performance on the psychomotor vigilance test during the first 24 h of wakefulness in the caffeine condition. However, only the association between sAA and response speed (i.e. reciprocal-transform of mean reaction time) was consistent across both days of sleep deprivation. The association between sAA and driving performance was not consistent across both days of sleep deprivation. Results show that the relationship between sAA and reciprocal-transform of mean reaction time on the psychomotor vigilance test persisted in the presence of caffeine, however the association was relatively weaker as compared with the placebo condition.

A Review of Selected Studies That Determine the Physical and Chemical Properties of Saliva in the Field of Dental Treatment

Physiological whole saliva is a unique body fluid constantly washing the mucous membranes of the mouth, throat, and larynx. Saliva is a clear, slightly acidic mucinous-serous secretion, composed of various electrolytes, small organic substances, proteins, peptides, and polynucleotides. There are many ways to use saliva as a biological fluid (biofluid). The significant advantages of saliva as a unique diagnostic material are its availability and the noninvasive method of collection. The aim of this review is to emphasize the diagnostic value of saliva as a research material in the configuration of its structure and secretion disorders. The data were obtained using the MEDLINE (PubMed) search engine, as well as an additional manual search. The analysis covered 77 articles selected from a group of 1986 publications and initially qualified for devising. The results were evaluated and checked for the correctness of qualifying in accordance with inclusion and exclusion criteria. The diagnostic use of saliva has attracted the attention of many researchers due to its noninvasive nature and relative simplicity of collection. In addition, it should be noted that the determination of chemical and physical saliva parameters can be effectively performed in the patient's presence in the dental office.

A review of caffeine use as a risk or protective factor for women's health and pregnancy

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

To provide a narrative synthesis of recently published studies on caffeine use as a risk or protective factor for health outcomes, with a focus on women's health and pregnancy.

RECENT FINDINGS

Based on predominantly observational studies, moderate caffeine intake has been shown to be a protective factor for liver cancer, certain bowel conditions, colorectal cancer, skin cancer, and regular menstrual cycle function. However, heavy consumption is a risk factor for osteoporosis, urinary incontinence, and poorer birth and child developmental outcomes. Residual confounding and issues surrounding retrospective self-reported intake are cited as key limitations in the majority of these studies. Moderate caffeine intake has been associated with lower risk of cardiovascular disease and metabolic syndrome; however, recent genetic epidemiology studies provide no evidence for a causal relationship.

SUMMARY

Greater inclusion of female participants in studies, and analysis of sex differences in the relationship between caffeine intake and certain health conditions, is necessary. The current literature suggests caffeine's role as a risk or protective factor differs across health conditions. Often, there are plausible biological mechanisms for this relationship. However, a continued precautionary stance is recommended until direct causal pathways are established. Review of recently published studies does not suggest that current intake guidelines for adults and for pregnant woman need to be modified.