Fans of coffee have just can’t get enough reasons for their fondness. Here is one more; the caffeinated drink may help small blood vessels to work better and hence ward off heart problems.According to a new study, for the first time it was observed that drinking a cup of caffeinated coffee significantly improved blood flow in a finger. This indicates how well the inner lining of the body’s smaller blood vessels work.
Out of 27 participants, the ones who drank a cup of caffeinated coffee, had a 30 per cent increase in the blood flow. This increase was noticed over a 75-minute period compared to those who drank decaffeinated coffee.
"This gives us a clue about how coffee may help improve cardiovascular health," said Masato Tsutsui, lead researcher and a cardiologist and professor in the pharmacology department at the University of the Ryukyus in Okinawa, Japan.
The participants in the study were people between the ages of 22 to 30 and did not consume coffee on a regular basis. It's still unclear how caffeine actually works to improve small blood vessel function, although Tsutsui suggests that caffeine may help open blood vessels and reduce inflammation.
"If we know how the positive effects of coffee work, it could lead to a new treatment strategy for cardiovascular disease in the future," said Tsutsui. The research was presented at the American Heart Association's Scientific Sessions 2013 in Dallas.
Read more Health News.