Caffeine and the Risk of Diabetic Retinopathy in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: Findings from Clinical and Experimental Studies.

Mar 13, 2023

Experts: Nuria Alcubierre,Minerva Granado-Casas,Patricia Bogdanov,Cristina Hernández,Hugo Ramos,Esmeralda Castelblanco,Jordi Real,Esther Rubinat-Arnaldo,Alicia Traveset,Marta Hernández,Carmen Jurjo,Jesús Vioque,Eva Maria Navarrete-Muñoz,Rafael Simó,Didac Mauricio

The aim of this study was to assess the potential benefits of caffeine intake in protecting against the development of diabetic retinopathy (DR) in subjects with type 2 diabetes (T2D). Furthermore, we tested the effect of topical administration of caffeine on the early stages of DR in an experimental model of DR. In the cross-sectional study, a total of 144 subjects with DR and 147 individuals without DR were assessed. DR was assessed by an experienced ophthalmologist. A validated food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) was administered. In the experimental model, a total of 20 mice were included. One drop (5 μL) of caffeine (5 mg/mL) ( = 10) or vehicle (5 μL PBS, pH 7.4) ( = 10) was randomly administered directly onto the superior corneal surface twice daily for two weeks in each eye. Glial activation and retinal vascular permeability were assessed using standard methods. In the cross-sectional study in humans, the adjusted-multivariable model showed that a moderate and high (Q2 and Q4) caffeine intake had a protective effect of DR (odds ratio (95% confidence interval) = 0.35 (0.16-0.78); = 0.011 and 0.35 (0.16-0.77); = 0.010, respectively). In the experimental model, the administration of caffeine did not improve either reactive gliosis or retinal vascular permeability. Our results suggest a dose-dependent protective effect of caffeine in the development of DR, while the potential benefits of antioxidants in coffee and tea should also be considered. Further research is needed to establish the benefits and mechanisms of caffeinated beverages in the development of DR.

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ABOUT THE EXPERTS

Nuria Alcubierre,Minerva Granado-Casas,Patricia Bogdanov,Cristina Hernández,Hugo Ramos,Esmeralda Castelblanco,Jordi Real,Esther Rubinat-Arnaldo,Alicia Traveset,Marta Hernández,Carmen Jurjo,Jesús Vioque,Eva Maria Navarrete-Muñoz,Rafael Simó,Didac Mauricio

Nuria Alcubierre

Avantmedic Center, 25008 Lleida, Spain.

Minerva Granado-Casas

Department of Nursing and Physiotherapy, Health Sciences Faculty, University of Lleida, 25198 Lleida, Spain.

Institute of Biomedical Research in Lleida (IRBLleida), 25198 Lleida, Spain.

Center for Biomedical Research on Diabetes and Associated Metabolic Diseases (CIBERDEM), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 08907 Barcelona, Spain.

DAP-Cat Group, Unitat de Suport a la Recerca Barcelona, Institut Universitari d’Investigació en Atenció Primària Jordi Gol (IDIAP Jordi Gol), 08041 Barcelona, Spain.

Patricia Bogdanov

Center for Biomedical Research on Diabetes and Associated Metabolic Diseases (CIBERDEM), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 08907 Barcelona, Spain.

Diabetes and Metabolism Research Unit, Vall d’Hebron Research Institute (VHIR) and Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB), 08035 Barcelona, Spain.

Cristina Hernández

Center for Biomedical Research on Diabetes and Associated Metabolic Diseases (CIBERDEM), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 08907 Barcelona, Spain.

Diabetes and Metabolism Research Unit, Vall d’Hebron Research Institute (VHIR) and Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB), 08035 Barcelona, Spain.

Hugo Ramos

Center for Biomedical Research on Diabetes and Associated Metabolic Diseases (CIBERDEM), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 08907 Barcelona, Spain.

Diabetes and Metabolism Research Unit, Vall d’Hebron Research Institute (VHIR) and Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB), 08035 Barcelona, Spain.

Esmeralda Castelblanco

DAP-Cat Group, Unitat de Suport a la Recerca Barcelona, Institut Universitari d’Investigació en Atenció Primària Jordi Gol (IDIAP Jordi Gol), 08041 Barcelona, Spain.

Endocrinology, Metabolism and Lipid Research Division, Department of Internal Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA.

Jordi Real

Center for Biomedical Research on Diabetes and Associated Metabolic Diseases (CIBERDEM), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 08907 Barcelona, Spain.

DAP-Cat Group, Unitat de Suport a la Recerca Barcelona, Institut Universitari d’Investigació en Atenció Primària Jordi Gol (IDIAP Jordi Gol), 08041 Barcelona, Spain.

Esther Rubinat-Arnaldo

Department of Nursing and Physiotherapy, Health Sciences Faculty, University of Lleida, 25198 Lleida, Spain.

Institute of Biomedical Research in Lleida (IRBLleida), 25198 Lleida, Spain.

Center for Biomedical Research on Diabetes and Associated Metabolic Diseases (CIBERDEM), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 08907 Barcelona, Spain.

Alicia Traveset

Institute of Biomedical Research in Lleida (IRBLleida), 25198 Lleida, Spain.

Department of Ophthalmology, University Hospital Arnau de Vilanova, 25198 Lleida, Spain.

Marta Hernández

Institute of Biomedical Research in Lleida (IRBLleida), 25198 Lleida, Spain.

Department of Endocrinology & Nutrition, University Hospital Arnau de Vilanova, 25198 Lleida, Spain.

Carmen Jurjo

Institute of Biomedical Research in Lleida (IRBLleida), 25198 Lleida, Spain.

Department of Ophthalmology, University Hospital Arnau de Vilanova, 25198 Lleida, Spain.

Jesús Vioque

Nutritional Epidemiology Unit, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria y Biomédica de Alicante (ISABIAL), Miguel Hernández University, 46020 Alicante, Spain.

CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII), 28029 Madrid, Spain.

Eva Maria Navarrete-Muñoz

Grupo de Investigación en Terapia Ocupacional (InTeO), Department of Surgery and Pathology, Miguel Hernández University, 03550 Alicante, Spain.

Alicante Institute for Health and Biomedical Research (ISABIAL-FISABIO Foundation), 03010 Alicante, Spain.

Rafael Simó

Center for Biomedical Research on Diabetes and Associated Metabolic Diseases (CIBERDEM), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 08907 Barcelona, Spain.

Diabetes and Metabolism Research Unit, Vall d’Hebron Research Institute (VHIR) and Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB), 08035 Barcelona, Spain.

Didac Mauricio

Center for Biomedical Research on Diabetes and Associated Metabolic Diseases (CIBERDEM), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 08907 Barcelona, Spain.

DAP-Cat Group, Unitat de Suport a la Recerca Barcelona, Institut Universitari d’Investigació en Atenció Primària Jordi Gol (IDIAP Jordi Gol), 08041 Barcelona, Spain.

Department of Endocrinology and Nutrition, Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau & Institut d’Investigació Biomèdica Sant Pau (IIB Sant Pau), 08041 Barcelona, Spain.

Faculty of Medicine, University of Vic (UVIC/UCC), 08500 Vic, Spain.