Coffee’s Link to Raised Cholesterol Depends on Drinker’s Sex Plus Brewing Method

The widest gender difference observed for espresso; narrower for plunger coffee (coffee maker).

The gender of the drinker, as well as the brewing method, may be key in coffee’s link to high cholesterol, a known risk factor for heart disease, suggests research published May 10, 2022 in the open access journal . Open heart.

Drinking espresso was associated with the largest gender difference in cholesterol level; plunger coffee (coffee maker) was associated with the narrowest, the findings show.

Natural chemicals in coffee (diterpenes, cafestol, and kahweol) raise blood cholesterol levels. Brewing method plays a role, but it’s not clear what impact espresso might have and in what quantities.

Therefore, the researchers wanted to compare espresso with other brewing methods among adults aged 40 and older (average age 56).

They were based on data from 21,083 participants (11,074 women; 10,009 men) who responded to the seventh survey of the Tromsø Study in 2015–16, a long-term population study, which began in 1974, involving residents. from the Norwegian city of Tromsø.

Participants were asked how many cups of coffee they drank per day: none, 1-2 cups; 3-5; and 6 or more—and what kind of concoction they drank—filtered; plunger (coffee maker); espresso from coffee machines, pods, moka pots, etc.; and instant.

Blood samples were taken and height and weight were measured. Information on potentially influencing factors was also sought: diet and lifestyle, including smoking, alcohol consumption and physical activity; educational achievement; and whether type 2 diabetes had been diagnosed.

The women drank an average of just under 4 cups of coffee every day, while the men drank an average of almost 5.

Data analysis showed that the association between coffee and serum total cholesterol varied by brewing method, with significant gender differences for all brew types except plunger coffee.

Drinking 3 to 5 daily cups of espresso was significantly associated with increased serum total cholesterol, particularly among men.

Compared with those who drank nothing, this drinking pattern was associated with 0.09 mmol/L higher serum cholesterol among women. against 0.16 mmol/l higher among men.

A daily count of 6 or more cups of plunger coffee was also associated with elevated cholesterol, and to a similar degree in both sexes: 0.30 mmol/l higher in women against 0.23 mmol/l higher among men.

And drinking 6 or more cups of filter coffee every day was associated with 0.11 mmol/L higher cholesterol among women, but not men, compared with those who didn’t drink filter coffee.

While instant coffee was associated with an increase in cholesterol in both genders, this did not increase along with the number of cups consumed, compared to those who did not opt ​​for coffee powder/granules.

The researchers note that a standardized cup size was not used in their study; Norwegians tend to drink larger espresso cups than Italians, for example.

Different types of espresso, from coffee machines, capsules, or mocha pots, can also contain different levels of the main natural chemicals.

And there are no obvious explanations yet for the gender discrepancy in the cholesterol response to coffee consumption, they add.

“Interestingly, coffee contains over a thousand diverse phytochemicals. The intake of each compound also depends on the variety of coffee species, the degree of roasting, the type of preparation method and the size of the portion”, they explain.

Experimental studies show that cafestol and kahweol, in addition to increasing total cholesterol, have anti-inflammatory effects, protect the liver, and reduce the risks of cancer and diabetes, they add.

“This shows how coffee contains compounds that can cause multiple mechanisms to operate simultaneously,” the researchers point out.

And they note: “Coffee is the most consumed central stimulant in the world. Due to high coffee consumption, even small health effects can have considerable health consequences.”

Reference: “Association between espresso coffee and total serum cholesterol: the Tromsø study 2015–2016” May 10, 2022, Open heart.
DOI: 10.1136/openhrt-2021-00194

Funding: Northern Norway Regional Health Authority; Norwegian Research Council; Norwegian Council of Cardiovascular Diseases