Acute coffee ingestion does not affect LDL cholesterol level.

BACKGROUND

Although patients are instructed to abstain from food before having blood drawn for lipid analysis, many still drink coffee in the morning. It is unknown whether coffee consumed prior to drawing blood samples will impact fasting serum lipids.

OBJECTIVE

To determine whether a single 6-oz cup of coffee with or without the addition of nondairy creamer and sugar will significantly affect fasting plasma lipid profiles.

METHODS

This was a prospective, open-label, randomized crossover study. At the first of 2 visits, blood was drawn to measure initial fasting lipid panels, and participants were randomized to drink 6 oz of black coffee or coffee with nondairy creamer and sugar. Within 30-60 minutes of coffee consumption, blood was drawn for follow-up lipid panels. The procedure was repeated at the second visit, except the participants were crossed over to receive the alternate coffee preparation.

RESULTS

Forty participants (26 men; age [mean +/- SD] 45 +/- 15 y) were enrolled. Total cholesterol (TC) increased from 188.2 +/- 38.1 to 191.3 +/- 39.9 mg/dL (p = 0.019) and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) increased from 43.2 +/- 12.3 to 44.8 +/- 12.9 mg/dL (p < 0.001) after consumption of black coffee. Triglycerides decreased from 145.6 +/- 123.7 to 136.3 +/- 107.1 mg/dL (p = 0.014) after consumption of coffee with nondairy creamer and sugar. Changes in other lipid parameters, such as low-density lipoprotein cholesterol in either group, were not statistically significant.

CONCLUSIONS

A single cup of coffee consumed within one hour before drawing blood resulted in statistically, but not clinically, significant differences in TC and HDL-C (black coffee) and triglycerides (coffee with creamer and sugar).