ABSTRACT

‍Evidence to substantiate recommendations for restriction of caffeinated or acidic beverages as self-management for lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) is limited. We examined longitudinal and acute associations between beverage intake and LUTS in the Boston Area Community Health (BACH) cohort (n = 4,145) between 2002 and 2010. Multivariable models tested associations between baseline intakes and progression of LUTS at 5-year follow-up, between follow-up intakes and International Prostate Symptom Scores at follow-up, and between 5-year intake changes and LUTS progression. Greater coffee or total caffeine intake at baseline increased the odds of LUTS progression in men (coffee: >2 cups/day vs. none, odds ratio = 2.09, 95% confidence interval: 1.29, 3.40, P-trend = 0.01; caffeine: P-trend < 0.001), particularly storage symptoms. Women who increased coffee intake by at least 2 servings/ day during follow-up (compared with categories of decreased or unchanged intakes) had 64% higher odds of progression of urgency (P = 0.003). Women with recently increased soda intake, particularly caffeinated diet soda, had higher symptom scores, urgency, and LUTS progression. Citrus juice intake was associated with 50% lower odds of LUTS progression in men (P = 0.02). Findings support recommendations to limit caffeinated beverage intake for LUTS, and in men, they suggest benefits of citrus juice consumption. Further clinical research is warranted, particularly of the precise role of sodas containing artificial sweeteners in bladder sensations and urological function.