Measurement of Heart Rate Variability (HRV) and Stress Index After Consumption of 4 Cups of Instant Coffee in 1 Day in A 60-Year-Old Man

The Measurement of Heart Rate Variability is the most accurate method for quantitative assessment of both divisions of the autonomic nervous system (sympathetic and parasympathetic) as well as sympatho-vagal balance.

The Coffee is one of the most commonly consumed beverages in the world. That is why it is appropriate to follow in dynamics during the day how coffee affects the autonomic nervous system (HRV and stress).

The measurement of HRV-parameters and the stress index was carried out in a 69-year-old man. He has height 178 cm, weight 75 kg and BMI = 24.

This study was done in the morning immediately after awakening from sleep at 8 o'clock under basal conditions (in complete rest in the supine position, complete silence and optimal room temperature). A short-term measurement of HRV parameters was made during 3 minutes. A "Polar H10" chest strap (with Bluetooth BLE signal transmission) was used, and the obtained data were processed and analyzed by the "Kubios HRV" software.

Immediately after breakfast, the subject consumes the first cup of instant coffee at 8.30 am. The next 3 cups of instant coffee (4 in total) were consumed by this person at 1-hour intervals. 30 minutes after the consumption of coffee from each cup (4 in total) HRV parameters and the stress index were measured at complete rest.

The obtained results are presented in 1-5 tables and 1-5 figures (from each measurement of HRV - parameters).

Table 1:

Table 2:

Table 3:

Table 4:

Table 5:

Figure 1:

Figure 2:

Figure 3:

Figure 4:

Figure 5:

From the results obtained in this study, it can be seen that the stress index increases slightly (from 17.06 to 18.22) and the LF/HF ratio also increases (from 1 to 3.4). Therefore, in our case, the intake of 4 cups of instant coffee by the studied elderly man leads to an increase in sympathetic tone, which causes a slight increase in the stress index. However, the changes of HRV-parameters are not strongly expressed. The investigated man is a non-habitual coffee consumer.

Zimmermann-Viehoff and co-authors [1] found in his study any differences in short-term effects of espresso coffee on heart rate variability in habitual and non-habitual coffee consumers.

However, in other made study [11] results suggest that regular caffeine use does not necessarily lead to tolerance for caffeine-stress interactions and that certain characteristics may be associated with greater sensitivity to caffeine's effects [1-11].

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