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Impact of Caffeine on Overactive Bladder Symptoms

  • Overactive Bladder (U Lee, Section Editor)
  • Published:
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Abstract

Caffeine consumption is highly prevalent in the adult population. First-line treatment of overactive bladder (OAB) symptoms involves behavioral modification, which includes reduction of caffeine consumption. A literature review over the last 3 years has identified 10 peer-reviewed articles that investigated the effects and mechanisms of caffeine on OAB symptoms. The literature describes that caffeine can be associated to de novo OAB symptoms or their exacerbation. Those effects have been found to be dose dependent. Significant associations to age and gender cannot be made at this point due to limited studies. This review raises awareness of caffeine’s potential causal impact on OAB symptoms, which is important when counseling the general population and patients suffering from OAB. Since there is a lack of evidence-based data to support clinical recommendations, more controlled-randomized prospective studies are needed to assess the impact of caffeine on OAB symptoms that also control for dose, gender, and age.

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Abbreviations

FDA:

United States Food and Drug Administration

GABA:

Gamma amino butyric acid

OAB:

Overactive bladder

QoL:

Quality of life

UI:

Urinary incontinence

UUI:

Urge urinary incontinence

SUI:

Stress urinary incontinence

LUTS:

Lower urinary tract symptoms

References

Papers of particular interest, published recently, have been highlighted as: • Of importance •• Of major importance

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, Loma Linda University, 11130 Anderson St., Loma Linda, CA, 92354, USA

    Imari-Ashley F. Palma

  2. Department of Urology, Loma Linda University Medical Center, 11370 Anderson Street, Suite 1100, Loma Linda, CA, 92354, USA

    Andrea Staack

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  2. Andrea Staack
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Correspondence to Andrea Staack.

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Ms. Palma and Dr. Staack declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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This article does not contain any studies with human or animal subjects performed by any of the authors.

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This article is part of the Topical Collection on Overactive Bladder

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Palma, IA.F., Staack, A. Impact of Caffeine on Overactive Bladder Symptoms. Curr Bladder Dysfunct Rep 11, 1–7 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11884-016-0342-y

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