Drinking espresso coffee may up cholesterol

Consumption of espresso coffee appears to be associated with an increase in total cholesterol levels, especially in men, a study reports.

The study drew cross-sectional population data from the seventh survey of the Tromsø Study in Northern Norway. A total of 21,083 participants aged ≥40 years were included in the analysis.

Researchers used a questionnaire to assess coffee consumption, defined according to type: filtered coffee, boiled coffee/French plunger coffee (coarsely ground coffee for brewing), instant coffee, and espresso-based coffee (from coffee machines, capsules). For each coffee type, consumption was categorized as follows: 0 cup, 1–2 cups, 3–5 cups, and ≥6 cups daily. There was no standardized cup size in the questionnaire.

The mean age of the population was 56.4 years, and 52.5 percent were women. Women drank a mean of 3.8 cups of coffee per day, while men drank a mean of 4.9 cups. Nondrinkers (11.8 percent of women and 8.1 percent of men) tended to be younger than coffee drinkers. Participants who consumed ≥7 cups of coffee per day had lower education and were more often daily smokers compared with nondrinkers.

Multivariable linear regression showed that consumption of 3–5 cups vs nonconsumption of espresso daily was significantly associated with increased serum total cholesterol (0.09 mmol/L for women, 0.16 mmol/L for men). Daily consumption of ≥6 cups of boiled/plunger coffee was also linked to elevated serum total cholesterol (0.30 mmol/L for women, 0.23 mmol/L for men). Meanwhile, intake of ≥6 cups of filtered coffee daily was associated with 0.11-mmol/L increase in serum total cholesterol levels for women but not for men.

There were significant sex-related differences in the association between serum total cholesterol and all coffee types except boiled/plunger coffee.