Pilot semi-chronic experiment towards the influence of brewed coffee on the cholesterol metabolism of the Wistar rat

The effects of brewed coffee on the cholesterol metabolism of the Wistar rat were investigated. Male rats were housed for 12 weeks in three groups of 8 animals and were giving drinking water or drinking water containing diluted brewed coffee. Dosis brewed coffee were such that the total intake of brewed coffee was equal to resp. 0, 10 - 15 and 20 - 30 cups of coffee per day for a man weighing 60 kg. Parameters studied comprised growth, food intake, water intake and cholesterol metabolism (total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, ratio HDL-cholesterol/total cholesterol, triglycerides, fosfolipids and the percentages lipoprotein). No effects of brewed coffee were seen on growth, food intake, water intake and cholesterol metabolism. Different causes may have had their influence on this insusceptibility. Most likely however is the insusceptibility of the rat for components which influence the cholesterol metabolism. Recommendations for future investigaitons twords the cholesterol increasing effects of brewed coffee are: 1) Investigaitons with a susceptible species such as rabbits and preferably with the AX/JU rabbit. 2) Divide the animals according to a good balanced experimental design that is in such a manner that the mean cholesterol concentrations and the standard deviation of the groups are equal. 3) The brewed coffee may be supplied by two oral routes by way of drinking and by way of consuming food in which lyphilized brewed coffee is mixed.HIGBVHIDGM/SRRIV