Effects of caffeine on the bladder

Nutrition Research Newsletter, Feb, 1991

EFFECTS OF CAFFEINE ON THE BLADDER Patients with symptoms of urinary frequency and urgency, particularly those due to destrusor instability, often report that coffee and teas worsen their symptoms. To determine whether caffeine is responsible for this effect, researchers from St. George's Hospital in London tested the effects of caffeine on bladder function in women with detrusor instability and normal controls.

Twenty women with proven detrusor instability and 10 normal controls consumed 200 mg of caffeine citrate and underwent urodynamic studies 30 minutes later. The patients were also tested on another occasion after abstaining from caffeine for 24 hours. In the patients, there was a significant increase in the detrusor pressure rise on bladder filling after caffeine administration compared with no caffeine. The control group showed no abnormalities after consuming caffeine.

The findings indicate that caffeine consumption causes a decrease in bladder compliance in patients with detrusor instability. This effect is likely to be responsible for symptoms noted.

Sarah M Creighton and SL Stanton, Caffeine: Does it Affect your Bladder? British J Urology 66(6):613-614 (Dec 1990) [Reprints: Sarah M Creighton, Urodynamic Unit, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, St George's Hospital, Cranmer Terrace, London SW17 0RE, UK!