A research revealed that coffee drinkers are less likely to have seizure-related respiratory dysfunction, especially with a dose-dependent effect compared with non-coffee drinkers or abstainers.
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The analysis of the study covered 90 patients with
drug-resistant focal epilepsy, with 323 seizure episodes. All of the patients
had data on focal seizure (FS), valid pulse oximetry (SpO2) measurement, and
usual coffee intake. The latter was obtained using a standardized self-questionnaire
and further categorized into the following: none, rare (less than or equal to 3
cups/week), moderate (4 cups per week), and high (greater than or equal to 4
cups/day).
The peri-ictal hypoxemia (PIH), described as SpO2
<90 percent for at least 5 seconds, was independently correlated with the
level of usual coffee intake and the antiepileptic drug withdrawal.
Comparative to FS in patients who never consumed
coffee or abstainers, the risk of PIH was four times lower in FS in patients
with moderate caffeine consumption and six times lower in FS in those with high
caffeine consumption.
Nevertheless, when PIH occurred, the extent was
significantly longer in patients with moderate or high coffee consumption than in
non-coffee drinkers.
According to the study, the caffeine interferes with
the adenosine pathway, which is primarily involved in breathing regulation. Upon
the immediate outcome of a seizure, extracellular concentrations of adenosine
are high. Seizure-related overstimulation of adenosine receptors can, likewise,
stimulate peri-ictal apnea.
For complete details of the study, click here...
Source: Epilepsia 2021;doi:10.1111/epi.16837