EFFECT OF CAFFEINE INTAKE AND ITS DURATION OF ACTION ON PULMONARY FUNCTION TEST: A RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED STUDY.

Boyana Krishna  Chaitanya; M. Srinivasulu; Dr.V. Jyothi; Vinay Kumar  Sayeli

doi:10.51168/sjhrafrica.v6i6.1722

Authors

Boyana Krishna Chaitanya Assistant Professor , Department of Physiology , Alluri Sitarama Raju Academy of Medical Sciences, Eluru, Andhra Pradesh, India
M. Srinivasulu Associate Professor, Department of Physiology, Government Medical College Eluru, Andhra Pradesh, India
Dr.V. Jyothi Assistant Professor, Department of General Medicine, Siddhartha Medical College, Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh, India
Vinay Kumar Sayeli Professor, Department of Pharmacology , Alluri Sitarama Raju academy of medical sciences ,Eluru, Andhra Pradesh, India

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.51168/sjhrafrica.v6i6.1722

Keywords:

Caffeine, Pulmonary Function Test, Forced Expiratory Volume in 1 second (FEV₁), Peak Expiratory Flow Rate (PEFR), Bronchodilation, Respiratory Assessment

Abstract

Background

Caffeine is a central nervous system stimulant with bronchodilatory effects that may influence pulmonary function. This randomized controlled study aimed to evaluate the effect of caffeine intake and its duration of action on pulmonary function tests (PFTs) in healthy adults.

Materials and Methods

One hundred healthy adults aged 18–35 years were randomly assigned to two groups: caffeine (200 mg oral caffeine, n=50) and control (no intervention, n=50). Pulmonary function parameters—Forced Expiratory Volume in 1 second (FEV₁), Forced Vital Capacity (FVC), FEV₁/FVC ratio, and Peak Expiratory Flow Rate (PEFR)—were measured at baseline and 1, 3, and 6 hours post-intervention.

Results

Participants had a mean age of 25.4 ± 4.8 years, balanced gender distribution (52% male, 48% female), and comparable body mass index (22.5 ± 2.2 kg/m²). The caffeine group showed a significant increase in FEV₁ (3.42 ± 0.39 L to 3.58 ± 0.40 L) and PEFR (7.6 ± 0.9 L/s to 8.1 ± 1.0 L/s) at 1-hour post-intake (p < 0.05). Improvements diminished by 3 hours and returned to baseline by 6 hours. The control group showed no significant changes.

Conclusion

Caffeine intake transiently improves pulmonary function, peaking at 1 hour and subsiding by 6 hours. Abstaining from caffeine for at least 6 hours before PFTs is recommended to avoid confounding results.

Recommendations

Individuals should abstain from caffeine-containing products for at least 6 hours before undergoing pulmonary function testing to ensure accurate and reliable results.

References

Rodak K, Kokot I, Kratz EM. Caffeine as a Factor Influencing the Functioning of the Human Body-Friend or Foe? Nutrients. 2021 Sep 2;13(9):3088. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu13093088

Haynes JM. Debunking myths in pulmonary function testing. Can J Respir Ther. 2017 Winter;53(1):7-11. Epub 2017 Feb 1. PMID: 30996623; PMCID: PMC6422208.

Welsh EJ, Bara A, Barley E, Cates CJ. Caffeine for asthma. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2010 Jan 20;2010(1): CD001112. https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD001112.pub2

Gong H Jr, Simmons MS, Tashkin DP, Hui KK, Lee EY. Bronchodilator effects of caffeine in coffee. A dose-response study of asthmatic subjects. Chest. 1986 Mar;89(3):335-42. https://doi.org/10.1378/chest.89.3.335

Marinho AH, Cristina-Souza G, Santos PS, Santos-Mariano AC, Rodacki A, De-Oliveira FR, et al. Caffeine alters the breathing pattern during high-intensity whole-body exercise in healthy men. Eur J Appl Physiol. 2022 Jun;122(6):1497-1507. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-022-04934-2

Marinho AH, Lopes-Silva JP, Cristina-Souza G, Sousa FAB, Ataide-Silva T, Lima-Silva AE, et al. Effects of caffeine ingestion on cardiopulmonary responses during a maximal graded exercise test: a systematic review with meta-analysis and meta-regression. Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr. 2024;64(1):127-139. https://doi.org/10.1080/10408398.2022.2104807

Chapman RF, Mickleborough TD. The effects of caffeine on ventilation and pulmonary function during exercise: an often-overlooked response. Phys Sportsmed. 2009 Dec;37(4):97-103. https://doi.org/10.3810/psm.2009.12.1747

Nettleton JA, Follis JL, Schabath MB. Coffee intake, smoking, and pulmonary function in the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study. Am J Epidemiol. 2009 Jun 15;169(12):1445-53. https://doi.org/10.1093/aje/kwp068

Han YY , Forno E, Celedón JC. Urinary caffeine and caffeine metabolites, asthma, and lung function in a nationwide study of U.S. adults. J Asthma. 2022 Nov;59(11):2127-2134. https://doi.org/10.1080/02770903.2021.1993250

Ruíz-Moreno C, Lara B, Brito de Souza D, Gutiérrez-Hellín J, Romero-Moraleda B, Cuéllar-Rayo Á, et al. Acute caffeine intake increases muscle oxygen saturation during a maximal incremental exercise test. Br J Clin Pharmacol. 2020 May;86(5):861-867. https://doi.org/10.1111/bcp.14189

Aranda JV, Turmen T, Davis J, Trippenbach T, Grondin D, Zinman R, et al. Effect of caffeine on control of breathing in infantile apnea. J Pediatr. 1983 Dec;103(6):975-8. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0022-3476(83)80735-5

Doyle LW, Ranganathan S, Cheong JLY. Neonatal Caffeine Treatment and Respiratory Function at 11 Years in Children under 1,251 g at Birth. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2017 Nov 15;196(10):1318-1324. https://doi.org/10.1164/rccm.201704-0767OC