Effects of coffee on plasma lipids, lipoproteins and apolipoproteins

The acute effects of coffee, cigarette smoking and alcohol on serum lipids, lipoproteins and thromboxane B2 production by platelets were studied in nine healthy volunteers who were non-drinkers of coffee and alcohol and non-smokers. They received, in a single administration, coffee (containing 200 mg of caffeine), alcohol (0.50 ml/kg body wt), or smoked two cigarettes. No differences were observed between baseline and 15, 60 and 80 min values for plasma cholesterol, triglycerides, HDL cholesterol, plasma apolipoproteins A-I and B and thromboxane B2 production. Chronic coffee consumption also did not affect either plasma lipoprotein profile or the interaction of low density lipoproteins with cellular receptors in a group of healthy individuals. These results suggest that coffee itself does not affect acutely the plasma lipoprotein profile in healthy man. This was also true in heavy coffee drinkers.