Coffee consumption and serum lipids: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled clinical rials

Coffee drinking has been associated with increased serum cholesterol levels in some, but not all, studies. A Medline search of the English-language li terature published prior to December 1998, a bibliography review, and consu ltations with experts were performed to identify 14 published trials of cof fee consumption. Information was abstracted independently by two reviewers using a standardized protocol. With a random-effects model, treatment effec ts were estimated by pooling results from individual trials after weighting the results by the inverse of total variance. A dose-response relation bet ween coffee consumption and both total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol was identified (p < 0.01), Increases in serum lipids were greater in studies of patients with hyperlipidemia and in trials of caffeinated or boiled coffee . Trials using filtered coffee demonstrated very little increase in serum c holesterol. Consumption of unfiltered, but not filtered, coffee increases s erum levels of total and LDL cholesterol.