Caffeine Uptake into the Vitreous after Peroral Coffee Consumption

Abstract

<b><i>Introduction:</i></b> Caffeine and its metabolites have antioxidant activity, scavenging reactive oxygen species. The aim of our study was to measure caffeine concentrations in vitreous samples after peroral caffeine intake. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> This prospective study included patients scheduled for 23-G pars plana vitrectomy with membrane peeling due to epiretinal membranes. The study was performed in two parts: in the first part, patients were recruited into three different groups: group A consisted of habitual coffee drinkers who agreed to drink coffee containing 180 mg caffeine 1 h before surgery (<i>n</i> = 10), group B consisted of habitual coffee drinkers who were not offered coffee before surgery (<i>n</i> = 5), and group C consisted of non-habitual coffee drinkers, forming the control group (<i>n</i> = 5). In the second part (group D) patients (habitual coffee drinkers) agreed to give additional blood serum samples for measurement of caffeine concentration. Harvested samples of vitreous (groups A–D), epiretinal membranes (groups A–C), and blood serum samples (group D) were examined for concentrations of caffeine with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. <b><i>Results:</i></b> Samples of 40 eyes of 40 patients were harvested. The concentrations of caffeine in the vitreous samples were 1,998 ± 967 ng/mL in group A and 1,108 ± 874 ng/mL in group B. In group C, caffeine concentrations were below 176 ng/mL in all vitreous samples. Both groups A and B had significantly higher concentrations of caffeine in the vitreous samples than group C (<i>p</i> &#x3c; 0.002, <i>p</i> &#x3c; 0.01, Mann-Whitney U test). Caffeine concentrations in epiretinal membranes were below the limits of detection. Correlation of caffeine concentrations between blood serum samples and vitreous samples in group D was high, with significantly higher caffeine concentrations in the blood serum. <b><i>Conclusion:</i></b> Coffee consumption leads to significant caffeine levels in the vitreous compared to patients in the control group, and caffeine concentrations in the vitreous showed a high correlation to blood serum concentrations of caffeine after peroral coffee consumption.