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Diterpene composition of oils from Arabica and Robusta coffee beans and their effects on serum lipids in man
Author(s) -
MENSINK RONALD P.,
LEBBINK W. JANET,
LOBBEZOO IRENE E.,
WOUW MARIANNE P. M. E. WEUSTENVAN,
ZOCK PETER L.,
KATAN MARTIJN B.
Publication year - 1995
Publication title -
journal of internal medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.625
H-Index - 160
eISSN - 1365-2796
pISSN - 0954-6820
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2796.1995.tb00883.x
Subject(s) - coffea canephora , coffea arabica , medicine , diterpene , composition (language) , zoology , cholesterol , food science , botany , biology , biochemistry , linguistics , philosophy
. Objectives. The cholesterol‐raising effect of boiled coffee is caused by diterpenes from coffee oil. In order to identify the diterpene responsible, we analysed the diterpene composition of oils from Arabica ( Coffea arabica ) and Robusta ( Coffea canephora robusta) beans and their effects on serum lipids and thyroid function. Design, Subjects, and Intervention. During the first 3‐week period of a randomized, cross‐over trial, 11 healthy, normolipaemic volunteers received per day either 2 g of coffee oil ( n = 5) or placebo oil ( n = 6). After a 2‐week wash‐out, the reverse treatments were applied for another 3 weeks. Six subjects received Arabica oil, supplying 72 mg day −1 cafestol and 53 mg day −1 kahweol, and five received Robusta oil, which provided 40 mg of cafestol, 19 mg of 16‐O‐methyl‐cafestol, and 2 mg of kahweol per day. Background diets were constant. Results. The average serum cholesterol levels rose by 0.65 mmol L −1 (13%) on Arabica oil ( P < 0.025; 95% CI, 0.21–1.09 mmol L −1 ) and by 0.53 mmol L −1 (13%) on Robusta oil (NS; 95% CI –0.36–1.42 mmol L −1 ). The triglycerides levels rose by 0.54 mmol L −1 (71%) on Arabica ( P < 0.005; 95% CI, 0.22–0.76 mmol L −1 ) and 0.49 mmol L −1 (61%) on Robusta oil ( P < 0.005; 95% CI, 0.30–0.68 mmol L −1 ). None of the effects on serum lipids or lipoprotein cholesterol levels was significantly different between Arabica and Robusta oil. Concentrations of serum total and free thyroxine (T 4 ), triiodothyronine (T 3 ), and thyroid‐stimulating hormone (TSH) were largely unaffected. Conclusions. Both Arabica and Robusta oil elevated serum lipid levels; therefore, cafestol must be involved and kahweol cannot be the sole cholesterol‐raising diterpene. The mode of action of coffee diterpenes does not involve induction of hypothyroidism.