Coffee consumption and human health--beneficial or detrimental?--Mechanisms for effects of coffee consumption on different risk factors for cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Full Abstract

Coffee is probably the most frequently ingested beverage worldwide. Especially Scandinavia has a high prevalence of coffee-drinkers, and they traditionally make their coffee by boiling ground coffee beans and water. Because of its consumption in most countries in the world, it is interesting, from both a public and a scientific perspective, to discuss its potential benefits or adverse aspects in relation to especially two main health problems, namely cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes mellitus. Epidemiological studies suggest that consumption of boiled coffee is associated with elevated risk for cardiovascular disease. This is mainly due to the two diterpenes identified in the lipid fraction of coffee grounds, cafestol and kahweol. These compounds promote increased plasma concentration of cholesterol in humans. Coffee is also a rich source of many other ingredients that may contribute to its biological activity, like heterocyclic compounds that exhibit strong antioxidant activity. Based on the literature reviewed, it is apparent that moderate daily filtered, coffee intake is not associated with any adverse effects on cardiovascular outcome. On the contrary, the data shows that coffee has a significant antioxidant activity, and may have an inverse association with the risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Author information

Author/s: Ranheim, Trine (T); Halvorsen, Bente (B);

Affiliation: Department of Medical Genetics, Rikshospitalet University Hospital, Oslo, Norway.

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Review

Journal: Molecular nutrition & food research (Mol Nutr Food Res), published in Germany. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2005-Mar; vol 49 (issue 3) : pp 274-84

Dates: Created 2005/03/09; Completed 2005/05/16; Revised 2007/11/15;

PMID: 15704241, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 2/18/2009, IMS Date: )

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Animals
Antioxidants - analysis
Cardiovascular Diseases - epidemiology; etiology; prevention & control
Cholesterol - blood
Coffee - adverse effects; chemistry
Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 - epidemiology; etiology; prevention & control

Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 - epidemiology; etiology; prevention & control
Diterpenes - analysis
Health Promotion
Homocysteine - blood
Humans
Risk Factors

Associated Chemicals: Antioxidants (0) ; Coffee (0) ; Diterpenes (0) ; Homocysteine (454-28-4) ; cafestol (469-83-0) ; Cholesterol (57-88-5) ; kahweol (6894-43-5)

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