Consumption of French-press coffee raises cholesteryl ester transfer protein activity levels before LDL cholesterol in normolipidaemic subjects.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the long-term effects of unfiltered coffee consumption on the activity levels of cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP), phospholipid transfer protein (PLTP) and lecithin:cholesterol acyltransferase (LCAT) and to assess a possible role of CETP activity levels in the rise in serum LDL cholesterol.


METHODS
Forty-six healthy normolipidaemic subjects consumed 0.9 L of either French-press or filtered coffee for 24 weeks. Fasting blood samples were obtained after 0, 2, 12 and 24 weeks of intervention and after and 12 weeks of follow-up.


METHODS
Serum activity levels of CETP, PLTP and LCAT.


RESULTS
Relative to baseline, French-press coffee significantly increased average CETP activity by 12% after 2 weeks, by 18% after 12 weeks, and by 9% after 24 weeks. PLTP activity was significantly increased by 10% after 12 and 24 weeks. LCAT activity was significantly decreased by 6% after 12 weeks and by 7% after 24 weeks. The increase in CETP clearly preceded the increase in LDL cholesterol, but not the increase in total triglycerides. However, consumption of French-press coffee caused a persistent rise in CETP activity, whereas the rise in serum triglycerides was transient.


CONCLUSIONS
Consumption of cafestol and kahweol cause a long-term increase in CETP as well as PLTP activity; the increase in CETP activity may contribute to the rise in LDL cholesterol.
De Roos
B
B
Division of Human Nutrition & Epidemiology, Wageningen University; the Department of Biochemistry, Cardiovascular Research Institute (COEUR), Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Erasmus University, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
Van Tol
A
A
Urgert
R
R
Scheek
L M
LM
Van Gent
T
T
Buytenhek
R
R
Princen
H M
HM
Katan
M B
MB
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000097:blood*; D053480:Cholesterol Ester Transfer Proteins; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood*; D003069:Coffee / Q000009:adverse effects; D004224:Diterpenes / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006023:Glycoproteins; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000097:blood; D008875:Middle Aged; D007862:Phosphatidylcholine-Sterol O-Acyltransferase / Q000097:blood; D049294:Phospholipid Transfer Proteins
C506642:CETP protein, human; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D053480:Cholesterol Ester Transfer Proteins; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D003069:Coffee; D004224:Diterpenes; D006023:Glycoproteins; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D049294:Phospholipid Transfer Proteins; C053401:kahweol; C053400:cafestol; D007862:Phosphatidylcholine-Sterol O-Acyltransferase