Khaberni - A comprehensive systematic review has shown exciting results about the impact of caffeine on the risk of developing inflammatory bowel disease and ulcerative colitis, indicating that the effect varies by geographic region, with differences between the Americas and the impact of caffeine in Asia.
This Chinese study is distinguished by its reliance on a pooled analysis of extensive data.
It was found that the consumption of caffeine shows no statistically significant association with the risk of developing Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) in general, but it may increase the risk of ulcerative colitis (UC) in various groups with differing characteristics.
The researchers at Jingmen Central Hospital in Jingmen, China, clarified that the relationship between the risk of inflammatory bowel disease and this stimulant alkaloid, which is an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory and is widely consumed in tea, coffee, chocolate, kola nuts, and over-the-counter drugs, varies by region, age, source, smoking, and educational level.
The effect of caffeine in Asia
According to "MedScape", in Asia and Europe, for instance, coffee and tea seem to reduce the risk of ulcerative colitis, while in the Americas and among adolescents, they have the opposite effect.
Dr. Xiangying Wu and colleagues wrote: "Multiple factors must be considered to accurately assess the impact of caffeine on the risk of developing inflammatory bowel disease".
Their study marks the first systematic examination of this issue after a 2021 study suggested a link between caffeine consumption and the severity of inflammatory bowel disease.
In specific findings:
• In the Americas, caffeine increased the risk of ulcerative colitis by approximately 70%.
• Age analysis showed that caffeine increased the risk of inflammatory bowel diseases more than fourfold in individuals under 18 years of age, but it reduced the risk by 7% in those older than 18 years.
• According to the source of caffeine, coffee reduced the risk of ulcerative colitis by 57%, while tea reduced the risk by 46%.
