Coffee consumption may have a mild anti-inflammatory effect and help regulate HDL cholesterol levels, according to a new study by Finnish and German researchers.
The researchers reported that they asked 47 coffee drinkers to abstain from coffee for one month, then to drink four cups of traditionally brewed coffee a day for the second month and eight cups a day for the third month.
By analyzing blood samples from the participants, the researchers found that during the final month of the trial, levels of the pro-inflammatory interleukin-18 decreased by 8 percent and 8-isoprostaglandin by 16 percent, but levels of the anti-inflammatory factor adiponectin increased by 6 percent. The researchers therefore believe that coffee consumption may slow inflammation that is not clinically significant.
