The Association between Caffeine Consumption from Coffee and Tea and Sleep Health in Male and Female Older Adults: A Cross-Sectional Study

Essential and Nonessential Elements, Lipids and Volatile Compounds in Coffee and Transfer to Coffee Brews: Assessment of the Benefits and Potential Risks for Human Health

Coffee is a popular beverage with significant commercial and social importance. The study aimed to determine the fatty acids profile, volatile compounds, and concentration of major and trace elements (Na, Mg, K, Ca, P, S, Fe, Mn, Cu, Zn, Cr, Ni, Cd, and Pb) in the two most important varieties of coffee, namely arabica and robusta. The leaching percentages of mineral elements and the effect of boiling time on the transfer of elements to aqueous extracts were also determined. In terms of fatty acids profile, the robusta variety was found to have a higher content of saturated fatty acids (46.68%) compared to the arabica variety (44.38%), whereas arabica contained a higher amount of omega-6. Regarding the volatile compounds, arabica contained higher amounts of pyrazines (36%), ketones (5.4%), and furans (37.8%). The average contents of the major elements in roasted coffee (arabica and robusta) decreased in the order K > P > S > Mg > Ca > Na, while the trace elements content exhibited a decrease in the order Fe > Mn > B > Cu > Zn > Ni > Pb > Cd ≈ Cr. In coffee brews, the contents of elements have a similar decreasing trend, although variations in leaching percentages were observed. The health risk was assessed considering the concentrations of potentially toxic elements in coffee brews, and no health risks were indicated by the obtained scores. The contribution of coffee brews to the recommended dietary daily intake of essential elements is low. However, it can be significant considering that this beverage is consumed on a daily basis.

Impact of coffee intake on human aging: Epidemiology and cellular mechanisms

The conception of coffee consumption has undergone a profound modification, evolving from a noxious habit into a safe lifestyle actually preserving human health. The last 20 years also provided strikingly consistent epidemiological evidence showing that the regular consumption of moderate doses of coffee attenuates all-cause mortality, an effect observed in over 50 studies in different geographic regions and different ethnicities. Coffee intake attenuates the major causes of mortality, dampening cardiovascular-, cerebrovascular-, cancer- and respiratory diseases-associated mortality, as well as some of the major causes of functional deterioration in the elderly such as loss of memory, depression and frailty. The amplitude of the benefit seems discrete (17 % reduction) but nonetheless corresponds to an average increase in healthspan of 1.8 years of lifetime. This review explores evidence from studies in humans and human tissues supporting an ability of coffee and of its main components (caffeine and chlorogenic acids) to preserve the main biological mechanisms responsible for the aging process, namely genomic instability, macromolecular damage, metabolic and proteostatic impairments with particularly robust effects on the control of stress adaptation and inflammation and unclear effects on stem cells and regeneration. Further studies are required to detail these mechanistic benefits in aged individuals, which may offer new insights into understanding of the biology of aging and the development of new senostatic strategies. Additionally, the safety of this lifestyle factor in the elderly prompts a renewed attention to recommending the maintenance of coffee consumption throughout life as a healthy lifestyle and to further exploring who gets the greater benefit with what schedules of which particular types and doses of coffee.

Effects of caffeine on accelerometer measured sleep and physical activity among older adults under free-living conditions

BACKGROUND

Adequate sleep and physical activity promote longevity among older adults. Caffeine supplementation could be used to increase activity levels, but its effects have not been examined in real-world settings where potential trade-offs regarding sleep quality are also considered. This study sought to examine associations between caffeine intake and accelerometer-derived sleep and activity among older adults under free-living conditions.

METHODS

Cross-sectional data were gathered from older adults aged 65 + in the 2011-14 National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (NHANES). Sleep parameters were derived from accelerometer data using a data-driven machine learning approach. Caffeine consumption was categorized based on weight (in mg/kg: 0, > 0 to 1, > 1 to 2, > 2 to 3, > 3) and absolute consumption (in mg: 0, > 0 to 100, > 100 to 200, > 200 to 300, > 300). Multivariable survey weighted regression models were used to examine associations between caffeine with average total daytime activity, highly active minutes, sleep duration, and sleep efficiency. Covariate adjustments included demographics, body mass index, smoking, alcohol, sleep disorders, sleep parameters (for activity outcomes), and daytime activity (for sleep outcomes).

RESULTS

N = 1,629 NHANES participants were included. Caffeine consumption was highest in the morning. In adjusted models, older adults who consumed > 3 mg/kg were 16.5% more active during the day (95% CI: 9.0, 24.4) and were highly active for 42.8 additional minutes (95% CI: 20.3, 65.4) compared to non-consumers. Similar results were observed for absolute consumption (mg), and significant but lower magnitude effects were observed for lower levels of consumption. Caffeine showed no association with sleep efficiency, while low levels of consumption (≤ 1 mg/kg, ≤ 200 mg) were associated with longer sleep duration.

CONCLUSIONS

Under free-living dietary, sleep, and activity patterns, this study found older adults who consumed caffeine were more active than non-consumers. Overall consumption was not associated with sleep efficiency but was associated with longer sleep duration at ≤ 1 mg/kg and ≤ 200 mg. Future causal studies should determine the effectiveness of caffeine for promoting higher activity in older adult populations.

The development of intrinsic capacity measures for longitudinal research: The Longitudinal Aging Study Amsterdam

BACKGROUND

The World Health Organization has introduced the construct of intrinsic capacity (IC) as an important component of healthy ageing and overall well-being in older adults The present study aimed to develop domain-specific and composite IC scores and to validate these scores by examining their longitudinal relation with functioning.

METHODS

We used prospective data on participants aged 57 to over 90 years, with a 10-year follow-up, from the Longitudinal Aging Study Amsterdam, an ongoing cohort study of older Dutch men and women Using a formative, stepwise approach, we identified indicators across the different domains of IC, i.e. vitality, sensory, cognition, psychology, and locomotion, using a combination of unidimensional factor analyses and Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM). Next, domain-specific and composite IC scores were generated, and the construct validity (score across age groups) and criterion validity (relationship with change in functional limitations) were assessed.

RESULTS

The multiple unidimensional factor analyses and PLS-SEM identified a total of 18 indicators, covering the five domains of IC. The mean composite IC score was 70.9 (SD = 0.9) in men and 69.7 (0.8) in women. The domain-specific and composite IC scores all showed good construct validity, with known-group validation results indicating age-related declines. A higher composite IC score was associated with less functional limitations over time (B = 0.20, 95%CI [0.19, 0.22]).

CONCLUSION

The developed domain-specific IC scores and the composite IC score effectively discriminated age-related declines in IC. Additionally, the composite IC score was longitudinally associated with functional limitations. By creating this comprehensive and reliable tool for tracking IC, we aim to provide valuable insights into the dynamics of ageing and support more effective strategies for promoting health and well-being throughout later life. These scores establish a foundation for future research to track longitudinal changes across various IC domains and relate these changes to key age-related outcomes.

Coffee and brain health: An introductory overview

Introduction to the "Impact of Coffee on Brain Health" explores the multifaceted relationship between coffee consumption and brain function. The chapter begins by highlighting coffee's global popularity and cultural significance, setting the stage for an in-depth exploration of its effects on brain health. It describes the intricate components of coffee, including caffeine, antioxidants, and polyphenols, elucidating their physiological and medicinal roles in promoting cognitive function and neuroprotection. While moderate coffee consumption offers potential benefits such as enhanced cognitive performance and mood regulation, excessive intake can pose risks such as insomnia and medication interactions. Research studies provide robust evidence supporting coffee's neuroprotective effects, while practical implications offer recommendations for optimizing consumption and minimizing risks. By embracing a personalized approach to coffee consumption and staying informed about its potential impacts, individuals can harness its benefits for brain health and overall well-being.

Predictors and disturbances of sleep quality between men and women: results from a cross-sectional study in Jordan

BACKGROUND

Sleep disturbances, a public health concern that may lead to critical physiological conditions, are associated with personal characteristics such as gender. Limited evidence is available from the Middle East population on the gender disparities in sleep quality. Therefore, the current study examined gender-specific differences in sleep quality and disturbances among Jordanian citizens.

METHOD

A cross-sectional design was used to recruit a convenient sample of 1,092 adults from different Jordanian cities. Data was collected using a self-reported questionnaire comprising the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), which was distributed online via social media networks. The participants were categorized according to their global PSQI scores into poor (PSQI ≥ 5) and good sleepers (PSQI < 5). The analysis focused on finding differences between women and men in terms of sleep quality and the effects of demographic, lifestyle, and socioeconomic factors on reported sleep problems.

RESULTS

Women were revealed to have a higher prevalence of all types of sleep disturbances than men. Women who were over 55 (compared to younger than 20 years), did not smoke, had multiple jobs or part-time employment (compared to unemployed women), and had a monthly income of more than 500 JD (compared to those with an income of < 500 JD) were less likely to experience poor sleep than other women. In contrast, men who neither smoked nor drank coffee, ate no sweets or only one to two pieces daily (compared to participants who ate more than two pieces daily), and worked fixed night shifts (compared to alternating shifts workers) were less likely to experience poor sleep than other men.

CONCLUSION

This study builds a more nuanced understanding of how different demographic, lifestyle, and socioeconomic factors - such as a participant's age, time of working duty, income, daily sweet consumption, daily caffeine consumption, and smoking - affect the sleep quality of men and women. Thus, promoting a healthier lifestyle for both genders by modifying risk factors - such as smoking cessation, as well as reducing their intake of caffeine and sweets - is the first step toward improving their sleep quality. Further studies are needed to examine how the social role of Arabic women affects their sleep.