Scientists from China, Iran, Switzerland, and Brazil assessed data from randomized controlled trials using green coffee bean extract supplements, and found significant improvements in total cholesterol, HDL- and LDL-cholesterol, but no significant effects on triglyceride levels.
Larger reductions in total and LDL-cholesterol and larger increases in HDL-cholesterol were observed when doses equal or greater than 400 mg were used, they added.
“The effect of green coffee on lipid profile may be mediated by several possible mechanisms. GCBE contains a significant amount of chlorogenic acid, which has been shown to decrease total cholesterol levels in the serum/liver by inhibiting the intestinal absorption, transfer, and hepatic biosynthesis of lipids and cholesterol,” wrote the researchers in Nutrition, Metabolism and Cardiovascular Diseases.
Study details
The researchers identified 17 RCTs to include in their meta-analysis and found that, in addition to the dose effect, there was also an effect of gender (with the cholesterol changes being greater in women), and duration (studies that lasted between 8-11 weeks produced better results than shorter trials).
Overall, the meta-analysis found that green coffee bean extract (GCBE) produced average reductions of total and LDL-cholesterol of 4.51 mg/dL and 4.38 mg/dL, respectively, compared to controls, while HDL increased by an average of 2.63 mg/dL.
“Taken together, these findings suggest that GCBE supplementation exerts some beneficial effects on lipid profile, however, these effects appear to be dependent on participants’ characteristics and features of the supplementation,” wrote the researchers.
Source: Nutrition, Metabolism and Cardiovascular Diseases
Published online ahead of print, doi: 10.1016/j.numecd.2019.10.002
“The effects of green coffee been extract supplementation on lipid profile in humans: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials”
Authors: F. Ding et al.