title: The effect of ephedrine plus caffeine on plasma lipids and lipoproteins during a 4.2 MJ/day diet.
abstract: The effect of treatment with a combination of ephedrine and caffeine during eight weeks' energy restriction (4.2 MJ/day) on the fasting plasma lipid profile was studied in obese women. Thirty-two women were randomly assigned to either ephedrine 20 mg plus caffeine 200 mg (EC) or placebo three times per day. Weight loss (7.8 +/- 0.63 kg) and loss of fat mass (6.2 +/- 0.49 kg) did not differ significantly between the two groups. Total cholesterol concentration declined from baseline to week 8 (0.58 +/- 0.13 mmol/l) with no significant difference between the two groups. HDL-cholesterol concentration was decreased by 0.14 +/- 0.03 mmol/l at week 4 and week 8 in the placebo group (P < 0.05) but remained unchanged in the EC group. No effect of dieting was seen on plasma triglyceride concentration in the placebo group but a decrease was observed in the EC group at week 8. It is suggested that EC combinations abolish the decline in HDL-cholesterol during active weight loss due to the beta-agonistic properties of ephedrine.
authors.affiliation: Research Department of Human Nutrition, Royal Veterinary and Agricultural University, Frederiksberg, Denmark.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Buemann
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Marckmann
authors.forename: N J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Christensen
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Astrup
mesh_terms: D001823:Body Composition; D002110:Caffeine / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood*; D004038:Diet, Reducing; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004809:Ephedrine / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D013006:Growth Hormone / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood*; D009765:Obesity / Q000178:diet therapy / Q000188:drug therapy*; D013963:Thyroid Hormones / Q000097:blood; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood; D015431:Weight Loss
chemical_list: D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D008055:Lipids; D013963:Thyroid Hormones; D014280:Triglycerides; D002110:Caffeine; D013006:Growth Hormone; D002784:Cholesterol; D004809:Ephedrine