Consumption of coffee and fluid balance

O. Adam, Munich

The diuresis provoked by a single dose of caffeine has bee experienced by most of us. . The resulting excretion of water and sodium is without consequence, provided fluid intake has been sufficient, i.e. extracellular volume is adequate. With insufficient fluid intake and low extracellular volume, however, consumption of coffee does not improve fluid deficiency. In this situation the effective circulating plasma volume is reduced, and hemoperfusion impaired. Consequently, the nutrient supply to cells is affected.

With chronic coffee consumption the diuretic effect is diminished. The dose to provoke this effect has a large inter-individual variability. Therefore, no limit can be defined that allows for adding coffee consumption to the daily fluid intake. Persons regularly drinking coffee or tea should be advised to have, additionally, an adequate daily fluid intake.

Key words: Coffee / tea / caffeine / fluid balance

Sie finden den Artikel in deutscher Sprache in Ernährungs-Umschau 01/05 ab Seite 14.