The Impact οf Caffeine Intake οn Patients with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: Protect Yourself, Drink More Coffee!

Abstract

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disease mainly affecting mostly young women, potentially involving any organ/system. The central role of environmental factors in disease pathogenesis has been widely demonstrated: among these, an emerging interest has been pointed to dietary factors.1-4 In this context, the spectrum of research on caffeine, one of the most widely consumed products in the world, is exponentially growing during the last decade. Indeed, caffeine, acting as a non-specific phosphodiesterase inhibitor, seems to be able to interact with multiple components of the immune system, influencing both innate and adaptive response.5-8