Consumption of French-press coffee raises cholesteryl ester transfer protein activity levels before LDL cholesterol in normolipidaemic subjects

J Intern Med. 2000 Sep;248(3):211-6. doi: 10.1046/j.1365-2796.2000.00728.x.

Abstract

Objectives: To determine the long-term effects of unfiltered coffee consumption on the activity levels of cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP), phospholipid transfer protein (PLTP) and lecithin:cholesterol acyltransferase (LCAT) and to assess a possible role of CETP activity levels in the rise in serum LDL cholesterol.

Subjects and design: Forty-six healthy normolipidaemic subjects consumed 0.9 L of either French-press or filtered coffee for 24 weeks. Fasting blood samples were obtained after 0, 2, 12 and 24 weeks of intervention and after and 12 weeks of follow-up.

Main outcome measures: Serum activity levels of CETP, PLTP and LCAT.

Results: Relative to baseline, French-press coffee significantly increased average CETP activity by 12% after 2 weeks, by 18% after 12 weeks, and by 9% after 24 weeks. PLTP activity was significantly increased by 10% after 12 and 24 weeks. LCAT activity was significantly decreased by 6% after 12 weeks and by 7% after 24 weeks. The increase in CETP clearly preceded the increase in LDL cholesterol, but not the increase in total triglycerides. However, consumption of French-press coffee caused a persistent rise in CETP activity, whereas the rise in serum triglycerides was transient.

Conclusions: Consumption of cafestol and kahweol cause a long-term increase in CETP as well as PLTP activity; the increase in CETP activity may contribute to the rise in LDL cholesterol.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial
  • Randomized Controlled Trial
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Carrier Proteins / blood*
  • Cholesterol Ester Transfer Proteins
  • Cholesterol, LDL / blood*
  • Coffee / adverse effects
  • Diterpenes / adverse effects*
  • Female
  • Glycoproteins*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Membrane Proteins / blood
  • Middle Aged
  • Phosphatidylcholine-Sterol O-Acyltransferase / blood
  • Phospholipid Transfer Proteins*

Substances

  • CETP protein, human
  • Carrier Proteins
  • Cholesterol Ester Transfer Proteins
  • Cholesterol, LDL
  • Coffee
  • Diterpenes
  • Glycoproteins
  • Membrane Proteins
  • Phospholipid Transfer Proteins
  • kahweol
  • cafestol
  • Phosphatidylcholine-Sterol O-Acyltransferase