Assessing the pharmacokinetics of caffeine in the lens epithelium after peroral intake

Session Details

Session Title: Cataract
Session Date/Time: Saturday 16/02/2019 | 08:30-11:00
Paper Time: 09:48
Venue: Hall Trianti

First Author: M.Ruiss AUSTRIA
Co Author(s): M. Kronschläger  T. Stimpfl  N. Hirnschall  C. Leisser  O. Findl     

Abstract Details

Purpose:

Several experimental and epidemiological studies have shown that caffeine has a protective effect on lens epithelial cells (LECs) and can prevent cataract development. This is probably due to the capability of the molecule to scavenge reactive oxygen species. The chemical properties of caffeine allow it to pass the blood-brain barrier and all biological membranes. However, despite the evidence of an anticataractogenic effect of caffeine, little is known about the pharmacokinetics of caffeine in human lens. Hence, the study aimed to investigate if peroral caffeine intake leads to caffeine accumulation in human lens capsule and LECs.

Setting:

Vienna Institute for Research in Ocular Surgery (VIROS), a Karl-Landsteiner-Institute, Hanusch Hospital, Vienna.

Methods:

Patients scheduled for bilateral cataract surgery with caffeine abstinence of 1 week before surgery of each eye were included in this study. At the day of the surgery of the second eye, patients either received no coffee (0 mg group) or coffee with 60 mg, 120 mg, or 180 mg caffeine. After capsulorhexis the lens capsule including the lens epithelial cells was transferred to a test vial for analysis of caffeine concentration by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS/MS).

Results:

Caffeine levels in the lens capsule/ epithelium were significantly increased (p < 0.05) in the 60-, 120-, and 180-mg coffee consumption groups. Caffeine concentrations (caffeine ng/ lens capsule/ epithelium) measured as differences between 1st and 2nd eye were -0.52 ± 1.16 (0 mg group, n = 7), 1.88 ± 2.02 (60 mg group, n = 8), 2.09 ± 0.67 (120 mg group, n = 9), and 3.68 ± 1.86 (180 mg group, n = 9). The increase constant of caffeine in a linear regression model was estimated as a 95% CI 0.02 ± 0.0046 (df 25; r = 0.85).

Conclusions:

We found increased caffeine concentrations in the lens capsule and lens epithelial cells after peroral intake of coffee in a dose-dependent manner. This information is important for further investigations on prevention of cataractogenesis.

Financial Disclosure:

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