Coffee Is a Good Indicator of Your Health?

64% of American adults currently consume coffee every day. About 400 million cups of coffee are consumed every day, so it's not a surprise that this could tell you a little something about your cardiovascular health. In a world-first study of 390,435 people, University of South Australia researchers found causal genetic evidence that cardio health, as reflected in blood pressure and heart rate, influences coffee consumption. Driven influences on habitual coffee intakes suggest that people tend to naturally regulate their coffee consumption based on blood pressure levels and heart rate. These findings suggest that observational studies of habitual coffee intakes are prone to influences by reverse causation, and caution is required when inferred health benefits result from comparisons with coffee abstainers or decaffeinated coffee drinkers. So whether it be, an Espresso, Decaf, a Cappuccino, or any other, these preferences arise from the constant consumption of such. "But what we don't recognize is that people subconsciously self-regulate safe levels of caffeine based on how high their blood pressure is, and this is likely a result of a protective genetic a mechanism. Conversely, a non-coffee drinker, or someone who drinks decaffeinated coffee, is more likely prone to the adverse effects of caffeine, and more susceptible to high blood pressure." lead Prof. Hyppönen says. How much coffee we drink is likely to be an indicator of our cardio health so it's best to listen to our body because it may be telling us more than what we tend to pick up!

Links: 

https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2021-04/uosa-elo042021.php 

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/04/210428080939.htm#:~:text=Genetic%20code%20drives%20your%20desire%20for%20coffee,-Date%3A%20April%2028&text=In%20a%20world%20first%20study,rate%20%2D%2D%20influences%20coffee%20consumption.

https://academic.oup.com/ajcn/advance-article-abstract/doi/10.1093/ajcn/nqab014/6169154?redirectedFrom=fulltext

Researchers Discover Kidney Gene May Play a Role in Blood Pressure Regulation

        A research team from the University of Cincinnati, used male mice to study the KAP gene. Kidney androgen-regulated protein, KAP, is only found in the kidney proximal tubule, and is stimulated in by an androgen hormone (testosterone for example). Although the kidney proximal tubule contains profuse amount of KAP, the function of KAP is unknown.

Manoocher Soleimani, MD

        Manoocher Soleimani, MD, Professor of Medicine and Associate Chair for Research in the Department of Internal Medicine at University of Cincinnati, led the study. The study included male mice with a deficiency in the KAP gene and significantly reduced blood pressure, and a group of control mice, who did not have a deficiency in the KAP gene. All of the mice were placed on a high salt diet for 14 days. After the 14 days, the mice with the KAP deficiency had a normal blood pressure and the mice in the control group were not significantly affected.
          Soleimani says, "It is well known that men are more prone to develop hypertension than women, specifically before the age of 50. While this has correlated with higher testosterone levels in men, the exact association between male hormones and hypertension remains unknown. Our results suggest that KAP, which is regulated by testosterone plays an important role in the systemic blood pressure in male animals through regulation of salt absorption in the kidney tubule."

        Although I know nothing about KAP genes and know very little about the regulation of blood pressure, this article still seemed interesting to me. The study seemed very straightforward. The researchers found their answer by simply feeding the mouse high amounts of salt than normal and measuring their blood pressure. I think the procedure was so simple, but the results were very important. The results from this study could possibly lead to treatments and protections for irregular blood pressure. I think the first step into possible therapies begins with finding out the function of the KAP gene.

Main Article: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/11/141117130725.htm
Related Article: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19332469

Genes Causing High Blood Pressure

An article in Medical News Today, called Genetics of Hypertension, is about a recent discovery of the functions of messenger RNA (mRNA), microRNA (miRNA), and renin in the kidneys. The article tells about how they affect one another, causing hypertension of the blood.

Blood Pressure is defined as the force of the blood pushing against blood vessel walls. High blood pressure, or hypertension, is dangerous because it constricts the walls of the blood vessels, causing the heart to work harder to pump blood throughout the body.

The exact causes of high blood pressure are unknown, although scientists have been aware that kidneys play a role in blood pressure regulation. This is the first time that scientists have been able to identify specific genes that contribute to the process and also found miRNAs that control the expression of the hormone renin.

The findings were discovered during a gene expression analysis of the human kidneys. Researchers examined kidney tissue samples from 15 hypertensive males and 7 males with normal blood pressure and various techniques were used to study the mRNA and miRNA in the medulla and the cortex of the kidney.

Researchers commented on the findings saying that it is the first real evidence to implicate that the hormone renin is a cause of high blood pressure. The study also showed, specifically, which genes and miRNA produce renin. The results of this research has the potential to pave the way for new hypertension therapies and medicine.

 

Pressure Genes

The University of Western Australia has conducted research that shows a relationship between blood pressure and DNA. An article recently posted in Nature shows that there are 16 genes that can be directly related to blood pressure. Scientists believe that by identifying these genes new treatments for cardiovascular diseases can be discovered. Hypertension is a disease that affects over one billion people throughout the world. These findings are leading to new advances in treatments for people that suffer from hypertension.

Further studies have also been conducted that show genes associated with pulse pressure and arterial pressure. Twenty four of these regions contain traits for both pressures. The School of Pathology at the university is currently studying ways that these genes can help with diagnostics of blood pressure diseases.

I find that this is an extremely important find for the advancements of cardiovascular treatments, but I think scientists are still a long way from fully understanding how blood pressure genes function.