Caffeine is well known and widely used for its mild stimulant effect on the central nervous system. Caffeine's effects on other areas of the body has been the subject of interest, as well, and some scientific researchers have questioned the potential effects of caffeine on arthritis. To address the various aspects of this question, studies have focused on the inflammatory properties of caffeine as well as on its ability to interfere with drugs used to treat certain forms of arthritis.
Gout
The relationship between coffee, tea and caffeine consumption and risk of gout was evaluated in a survey-style study published in the 2007 "Arthritis and Rheumatism." Uric acid levels in the body -- which, when elevated, are an indication of risk for gout -- were evaluated in 14,700 participants via a food frequency questionnaire. The study concluded that coffee consumption was associated with lower uric acid levels than no coffee consumption. There was also a decrease in uric acid levels with decaffeinated coffee consumption. There was no effect on uric acid from caffeine in the diet from other sources, including tea, indicating a component of coffee other than caffeine or in combination with caffeine that produced the observed effects on uric acid levels.
Rheumatoid Arthritis
The effect of coffee, decaffeinated coffee, total coffee, tea, or overall caffeine consumption on the risk of rheumatoid arthritis was reported in a study published in the 2003 "Arthritis and Rheumatism. The study was a carried out through a food survey of 83,000 women participants that was completed every four years over an 18-year period. The researchers found no significant association between overall caffeinated coffee consumption and rheumatoid arthritis or between tea consumption and rheumatoid arthritis risk. Total caffeine consumption was also not associated with the risk of rheumatoid arthritis.
Caffeine, Methotrexate and Psoriasis
Caffeine did not interfere with the drug methotrexate, which is used for psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis, according to a study published in the 2007 "International Journal of Dermatology." The study, which was conducted as a survey and included 64 psoriasis or psoriatic arthritis patients reporting their weekly methotrexate dosage and daily oral caffeine consumption, found no correlation between the two.
Caffeine, Methotrexate and Rheumatoid Arthritis
Dietary caffeine intake did not affect methotrexate effectiveness in patients with rheumatoid arthritis, according to a study published in the 2006 "Journal of Rheumatology." The study was conducted to investigate a hypothesis that methylxanthine compounds, which form the stimulants caffeine and theobromine and break down into uric acid, interfere with the drug by reversing its anti-inflammatory effects. Rheumatoid arthritis patients participating in the study were characterized as low, moderate or high caffeine consumers. There was no statistical difference in drug effectiveness noted among the three groups.
References
- Wiley: Coffee, tea, and caffeine consumption and serum uric acid level: The third national health and nutrition examination survey
- Wiley: Coffee consumption and risk of rheumatoid arthritis
- PubMed: Caffeine consumption and methotrexate dosing requirement in psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis.
- PubMed: Dietary caffeine intake does not affect methotrexate efficacy in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.
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