Caffeinated Coffee Does Not Acutely Affect Energy Intake, Appetite, or Inflammation but Prevents Serum Cortisol Concentrations from Falling in Healthy Men1–4

Abstract

Our aim in this crossover study was to investigate the acute effects of caffeinated and decaffeinated coffee consumption on appetite feelings, energy intake, and appetite-, inflammation-, stress-, and glucose metabolism-related markers. Sixteen healthy men (age range, 21-39 y; BMI range, 19.7-28.6 kg/m(2)) received in a random order on 3 separate occasions a standard breakfast snack with 200 mL of either caffeinated coffee (3 mg caffeine/kg body weight), decaffeinated coffee, or water (control). Before intervention (-15 min) and at standard time points following breakfast consumption (0, 15, 30, 60, 90, 120, 150, and 180 min), participants recorded their appetite feelings and we collected blood samples for measurements of circulating glucose, insulin, cortisol, and appetite- and inflammation-related markers. At 180 min, participants consumed a meal ad libitum. The appetite-related ratings, the appetite plasma hormonal responses as well as the plasma glucose, serum insulin, and plasma and serum inflammatory marker responses did not show an overall intervention effect or a time x intervention interaction. Ad libitum energy intake did not differ among the 3 interventions. However, a significant intervention effect (P = 0.04) and a time x intervention interaction (P-interaction = 0.02) were found for serum cortisol; cortisol concentrations were significantly higher following the caffeinated coffee intervention, compared to control, at 60 min and thereafter. In conclusion, the usually consumed amount of caffeinated coffee does not have short-term effects on appetite, energy intake, glucose metabolism, and inflammatory markers, but it increases circulating cortisol concentrations in healthy men.

The effect of diet components on the level of cortisol

“…In addition, it was noted that included caffeine in coffee inhibits evening decrease in cortisol levels. This effect is more pronounced in younger group (15-40 years) than in older (41-70 years), regardless of gender [73][74][75]. Fig.…”

“…In contrast to the green, black coffee stimulates secretion of hydrocortisone. Studies of Gavrieli et al [74] on cortisol levels in men who drank decaffeinated and caffeine-containing coffee showed that for the impact on level of this hormone is responsible caffeine. In addition, it was noted that included caffeine in coffee inhibits evening decrease in cortisol levels.…”

Cardiometabolic effects of two coffee blends differing in content for major constituents in overweight adults: a randomized controlled trial

“…In our trial with overweight subjects, no significant effects on body weight were found either, although we observed a significantly higher weight loss in those subjects with higher serum NMP levels after coffee consumption phase. Previous studies of acute responses to coffee intake reported counteracting effects on dietary intake and appetite [27,28] and thus indicate that additional factors might determine coffee-influenced weight development. This hypothesis is supported by results from a pilot study with 29 healthy volunteers, where after daily consumption of 750 ml coffee for 4 weeks, an increased Nrf2 transcription in peripheral blood lymphocytes had been observed.…”

Stress, Schizophrenia and Bipolar Disorder

“…Predisposing genetic factors may include common variants on single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in genes associated with cortisol metabolism (SRD5A2) (Steen et al 2010), the regulation of cortisol (glucocorticoid receptor, NR3C1) (Schatzberg et al 2014), dopamine catabolism (catechol-omethyltransfease COMT; dopamine D4 receptor gene (DRD4) (Jabbi et al 2007), inhibitory neurotransmittors (GABA a6 receptor subunit gene; GABRA6) (Uhart et al 2004) and stress-vulnerability (serotonin transporter-linked polymorphic region; 5-HTTLPR) (Miller et al 2013). Similarly, environmental factors such as substance abuse (Lopez-Larson et al 2011;Gavrieli et al 2011), sleep deprivation (Spiegel et al 1999), dietary changes (Cheng and Li 2012), lower socioeconomic status (Rudolph et al 2014) and a lower level of education (Karlamangla et al 2013) may contribute to the increased cortisol. While it remains unclear whether elevated cortisol levels are a risk factor for these disorders or a consequence of onset, recent studies suggest that it may be an interaction of the two (Wang et al 2011;Aina 2013;Perroud et al 2011).…”