Coffee consumption is correlated with serum cholesterol in middle-aged Finnish men and women.

The association between coffee consumption and serum cholesterol was studied in a cross-sectional epidemiological study in Finland where the annual per capita consumption of coffee (13.0 kg) is the highest in the world. Coffee consumption was assessed by a questionnaire in a representative population sample of 4744 men and 4495 women aged 25 to 64 years. Serum total cholesterol and HDL-cholesterol concentrations were determined in fresh sera by the enzymatic method. Data on a large number of potential confounding variables were also collected. In the age group 25 to 44 years, the level of serum total cholesterol increased linearly with increasing coffee consumption in both sexes, but in people aged 45 to 64 the peak level of serum cholesterol was found in those who consumed 4 to 6 cups of coffee per day. In the analysis of covariance controlling for age, body mass index, intake of fat, sugar, and alcohol, smoking, physical activity, and fasting time, the mean level of serum cholesterol of men was lower (p less than 0.001) in those who drank no coffee (5.9 mmol/l) than in those who drank 1 to 3 cups (6.1 mmol/l) or 4 or more cups (6.2 mmol/l) per day. In women, the corresponding mean serum cholesterol values were 5.8 mmol/l, 6.1 mmol/l, and 6.1 mmol/l (p less than 0.05). Serum HDL-cholesterol levels did not vary significantly with coffee consumption. There was a slight inverse association between tea drinking and serum total cholesterol in men (p less than 0.05) but not in women. Although our results suggest a positive association, the impact of coffee drinking on serum cholesterol seems to be minimal. The results also indicate that the possible mechanisms do not include caffeine.     

Tea consumption. relationship to cholesterol, blood pressure, and coronary and total mortality.

BACKGROUND AND METHODS. The relation of tea to cholesterol, systolic blood pressure, and mortality from coronary heart disease and all causes was studied in 9,856 men and 10,233 women without history of cardiovascular disease or diabetes. All men and women 35-49 years of age from the county of Oppland (Norway) were invited to participate; the attendance rate was 90%. RESULTS. Mean serum cholesterol decreased with increasing tea consumption, the linear trend coefficient corresponded to a difference of 0.24 mmol/liter (9.3 mg/dl) in men and 0.15 mmol/liter (5.8 mg/dl) in women between drinkers of less than one cup and those of five or more cups/day, when other risk factors were taken into account. Systolic blood pressure was inversely related to tea with a difference between the same two tea groups of 2.1 mm in men and 3.5 mm in women. Altogether 396 men and 237 women died from all causes, and of these 141 and 18, respectively, died from coronary heart disease during the 12-year follow-up period. The mortality rate was higher (not statistically significant) among persons drinking no tea or less than one cup compared with persons drinking one or more cups/day. This applies to men and women and to coronary heart disease and all-cause mortality. For men, the relative risk (one or more versus less than one cup) for coronary death from Cox regression was 0.64 (95% CI:0.38, 1.07).     

Green tea consumption and serum lipid profiles: a cross-sectional study in northern Kyushu, Japan.

METHODS. The relation between green tea consumption and serum lipid concentrations was examined using cross-sectional data on 1,306 males who received the retirement health examination at the Self-Defense Forces Fukuoka Hospital between October 1986 and December 1988. RESULTS. After adjustment for rank, smoking, alcohol use, physical activity, and body mass index, serum total cholesterol levels were found to be inversely related to the consumption of green tea while no association was noted with serum triglycerides and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol. Adjusted mean concentrations of total cholesterol were 8 mg/dl lower in men drinking nine cups or more per day than in those consuming zero to two cups per day. Serum cholesterol levels were inversely associated with traditional Japanese dietary habits (intake of rice and soy bean paste soup) and positively associated with Westernized habits. Additional adjustment for these dietary variables did not alter the inverse relation between green tea and total cholesterol.     

Association of serum lipoproteins and health-related habits with coffee and tea consumption in free-living subjects examined in the Israeli CORDIS Study.

BACKGROUND. A positive association between coffee consumption and serum cholesterol levels has been demonstrated and recent results indicate that this may be due to a lipid-rich fraction present mainly in boiled coffee. The possible effects of tea consumption are less clear, although evidence has been presented which suggests that tea drinkers have lower cholesterol levels. The associations between serum lipids and lipoproteins and coffee and tea consumption were examined in the Israel CORDIS study. METHODS. Employees of 21 factories were screened for cardiovascular disease risk factors between 1985 and 1987. Detailed data on coffee and tea consumption and serum lipids and lipoproteins were available for 3,858 men and 1,511 women. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS. Consumption of five or more cups of coffee per day was reported by 10.1% of men and 8.7% of women, whereas only 3.4% of men and 2.2% of women consumed similar quantities of tea. After controlling for a number of potential confounders, coffee consumption (particularly "mud" coffee) was strongly and positively associated with higher serum total and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels in both sexes (consumers of five or more cups per day had cholesterol levels up to 18 mg/dl higher than abstainers) and with high-density lipoprotein cholesterol in women. There was a nonsignificant negative association between tea consumption and serum cholesterol (cholesterol levels about 5 mg/dl more in abstainers than in those consuming five or more cups per day). In general, more negative health-related habits were reported with increased coffee consumption, whereas this relationship was not found for tea drinking. The relatively small percentage of heavy tea drinkers limits the conclusions that one can draw from this study and controlled trials are needed to evaluate possible lipid-lowering effects of tea consumption.     

Relationship of coffee consumption with serum lipids and lipoproteins in Japanese men

PURPOSE: To examine the relationship of instant coffee and brewed coffee with serum lipids and lipoproteins in Japanese men. METHODS: Study subjects were 4587 male self-defense officials aged 48-56 years who had a preretirement health examination at one of the three hospitals of the Self-Defense Forces from October 1986 to December 1992. A self-administered questionnaire ascertained lifestyle characteristics including consumption of a limited number of foods and beverages by all of the men. Serum concentrations of total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), and high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol were measured, and low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels were calculated from the values of TC, TG, and HDL cholesterol. RESULTS: While the consumption of brewed coffee was unrelated to any parameter of serum lipids and lipoproteins, instant coffee consumption showed a highly significant positive association with serum LDL cholesterol levels and an inverse association with serum TG levels. After adjustment for body mass index, smoking, alcohol use, green tea consumption, rank, and hospital, for each cup of instant coffee per day, LDL cholesterol levels were 0.82 mg/dl (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.29-1.35) higher, and TG levels in a natural log-scale were 0.014 mg/dl (95% CI 0.006-0.022) lower. There was also a tendency for a positive association between instant coffee intake and serum TC levels (trend p = 0.09). HDL cholesterol levels were unrelated to instant coffee consumption. These associations did not change after additional adjustment for selected foods and beverages associated with serum lipids and lipoproteins. CONCLUSIONS: The findings suggest that instant coffee, not brewed coffee, may be associated with raised levels of serum LDL cholesterol and decreased levels of serum TG.     

Inverse association between coffee drinking and serum uric acid concentrations in middle-aged Japanese males

Consumption of caffeine-rich beverages, which have diuretic properties, may decrease serum uric acid concentrations. We examined cross-sectionally the relationship of coffee and green tea consumption to serum uric acid concentrations in 2240 male self-defence officials who received a pre-retirement health examination at four hospitals of the Self-Defence Forces between 1993 and 1994. The mean levels of coffee and green tea consumption were 2.3 and 3.1 cups/d respectively. There was a clear inverse relationship between coffee consumption and serum uric acid concentration. When adjusted for hospital only, those consuming less than one cup of coffee daily had a mean serum uric acid concentration of 60 mg/l, while that of those drinking five or more cups of coffee daily was 56 mg/l (P < 0.0001). No such relationship was observed for green tea, another major dietary source of caffeine in Japan. The relationship between coffee consumption and serum uric acid concentration was independent of age, rank in the Self-Defence Forces, BMI, systolic blood pressure, serum creatinine, serum total cholesterol and serum HDL-cholesterol concentrations, smoking status, alcohol use, beer consumption and intake of dairy products. These findings suggest that coffee drinking may be associated with lower concentrations of serum uric acid, and further studies are needed to confirm the association.     

Relation between green tea consumption and the severity of coronary atherosclerosis among Japanese men and women

PURPOSE: To examine the relation between green tea consumption and arteriographically determined coronary atherosclerosis. METHODS: Study subjects were 512 patients (302 men and 210 women) aged 30 years or older who underwent coronary arteriography for the first time at four hospitals in Fukuoka City or one hospital in an adjacent city between September 1996 and August 1997. Lifestyle characteristics including green tea consumption were ascertained before arteriography by a questionnaire supported with interview. RESULTS: 117 men (38.7%) and 50 women (23.8%) had significant stenosis of one or more coronary arteries. Green tea consumption tended to be inversely associated with coronary atherosclerosis in men, but not in women. An evident, protective association between green tea and coronary atherosclerosis was observed in a subgroup of 262 men excluding those under dietary or drug treatment for diabetes mellitus. In this subgroup, after adjustment for traditional coronary risk factors and coffee, odds ratios of significant stenosis for consumption of 2-3 cups and 4 or more cups per day were 0.5 (95% confidence interval 0.2-1.2) and 0.4 (0.2-0.9), respectively, as compared with a consumption of one cup per day or less. CONCLUSIONS: The results indicate that green tea may be protective against coronary atherosclerosis at least in men.     

Walnuts lower serum cholesterol in Japanese men and women

Recent studies have shown that incorporating moderate quantities of walnuts into the recommended cholesterol-lowering diet in the U.S. decreased serum concentrations of total cholesterol in normal American men. To explore whether walnut consumption would also prove effective as part of the Japanese diet, we studied the effects of walnut consumption on serum lipids and blood pressure in Japanese subjects. We randomly assigned 20 men and 20 women to two mixed natural diets, each to be consumed for 4 wk in a crossover design. Both diets conformed to the average Japanese diet (reference diet) and contained identical foods and macronutrients, except that 12.5% of the energy of the walnut diet was derived from walnuts (43-57 g/d) (offset by lesser amounts of fatty foods, meat and visible fat). Total cholesterol concentration was 0.16 mmol/L lower for men (P = 0.05) and 0.21 mmol/L lower for women (P<0.01) when they consumed the walnut diet than when they consumed the reference diet. The LDL cholesterol concentrations were 0.18 mmol/L lower for men (P = 0.13) and 0.22 mmol/L lower for women (P<0.01) when they consumed the walnut diet. The ratio of LDL cholesterol to HDL cholesterol and the apolipoprotein B concentration were also lowered by the walnut diet (P<0.05). Blood pressures did not differ between the walnut and reference diet periods. Incorporating moderate quantities of walnuts into the average Japanese diet while maintaining the intake of total dietary fat and energy decreases serum total cholesterol concentrations and favorably modifies the lipoprotein profile in Japanese, particularly in women.     

Total and HDL cholesterol and their correlates in elderly men in Finland, Italy, and The Netherlands

In 1984 and 1985, 25-year follow-up studies were carried out in the Italian, Finnish, and Dutch cohorts of men originally examined around 1960 in the Seven Countries Study. Risk factors for coronary heart disease were determined in 2,255 men aged 65-84 years. The average serum total cholesterol levels of the elderly men in Finland and the Netherlands were similar, at around 236 mg/dl (6.10 mmol/liter). The average serum total cholesterol levels of the elderly men in Italy were about 10 mg/dl (0.26 mmol/liter) lower. During 25 years of follow-up, the average serum total cholesterol level increased by 29 mg/dl (0.75 mmol/liter) among the Italian survivors, decreased by 23 mg/dl (0.59 mmol/liter) in the Finnish survivors, and did not change in the Dutch survivors. Age, Quetelet index, and coffee consumption were the most important correlates of total cholesterol in these elderly men. Quetelet index, alcohol consumption, age, and cigarette smoking were significantly associated with high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol. The results of this study suggest that modifiable risk factors are related to total and HDL cholesterol in elderly men in different cultures.     

Coffee consumption and serum cholesterol: an epidemiological study in Belgium

In a Belgian population group of 15,954 male and 2116 female soldiers and their spouses the relationship between coffee drinking and serum cholesterol has been studied. A moderate but highly significant monotonic positive relationship between coffee drinking and both serum total and non-high density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol was observed in men (p less than 0.001) even when adjusted for the confounding effects of age, body mass index, smoking, alcohol, and dietary fat and cholesterol intake. Men drinking at least three cups of coffee daily had a mean level of serum total cholesterol about 4 mg/dl and of non-HDL-cholesterol about 3 mg/dl higher than those who did not drink coffee. No significant effect of coffee drinking on HDL-cholesterol was observed in men. In women coffee-drinking did not influence any of the measured serum lipids.     

Risk factors for coronary heart disease and level of education. The Troms? Heart Study

The relation between level of education, lifestyle variables, and major risk factors for coronary heart disease were analyzed in 12,368 men and women in Troms?, Norway. Subjects with the highest education tended to be less overweight, smoke less, be more physically active in leisure time, and have food habits assumed to be less atherogenic (i.e., drink less coffee, use soft margarine and low-fat milk, and eat fruits and vegetables daily) than persons with low education. In men and women, mean serum total cholesterol and systolic blood pressure were negatively associated with educational level, while high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol was positively associated with this variable in women only. The differences between the extreme groups of education (less than 8 and greater than 16 years of education) were as follows: 0.52 mmol/liter (20 mg/100 ml) for serum total cholesterol; 0.03 and 0.14 mmol/liter (1 and 5 mg/100 ml) in men and women, respectively, for HDL cholesterol; and 1.9 and 5.6 mmHg in men and women, respectively, for systolic blood pressure. Adjustment of the relations between level of education and serum total cholesterol and systolic blood pressure for several variables (including food habits) reduced the strength of the associations, which, however, were still statistically significant. For HDL cholesterol, a negative association was found in men when adjustments were done, and the positive association originally observed in women disappeared.     

The relationship between coffee consumption and serum cholesterol under consideration of smoking history

A large German population sample of 6820 men and 7258 women was used to investigate the relationship between coffee consumption, total serum cholesterol and HDL cholesterol.Analyses were conducted on men and women separately. Differences in age, body mass index, diastolic blood pressure, smoking habits, alcohol, fish, milk and tea consumption, physical activity and medication use were controlled for in the analyses. Interactions between coffee consumption and smoking habits in their relationship with serum cholesterol were part of the analyses. For men, a positive relationship between coffee consumption and total serum cholesterol was found among smokers and life-long abstainers but not in the group of ex-smokers. In women a relationship between coffee consumption and total serum cholesterol was also present, but very weak (only statistical significant in covariance analyses). Levels of HDL cholesterol did not correlate with coffee consumption in either men and women.Hypotheses concerning the peculiarities of the group of ex-smokers are developed, and supporting empirical evidence is given. It is suggested that the group of ex-smokers should always be analysed separately.     

Green tea consumption and prostate cancer risk in Japanese men: a prospective study

The incidence of prostate cancer is much lower in Asian than Western populations. Given that environmental factors such as dietary habits may play a major role in the causation of prostate cancer and the high consumption of green tea in Asian populations, this low incidence may be partly due to the effects of green tea. The JPHC Study (Japan Public Health Center-based Prospective Study) was established in 1990 for cohort I and in 1993 for cohort II. The subjects were 49,920 men aged 40-69 years who completed a questionnaire that included their green tea consumption habit at baseline and were followed until the end of 2004. During this time, 404 men were newly diagnosed with prostate cancer, of whom 114 had advanced cases, 271 were localized, and 19 were of an undetermined stage. Green tea was not associated with localized prostate cancer. However, consumption was associated with a dose-dependent decrease in the risk of advanced prostate cancer. The multivariate relative risk was 0.52 (95% confidence interval: 0.28, 0.96) for men drinking 5 or more cups/day compared with less than 1 cup/day (p(trend) = 0.01). Green tea may be associated with a decreased risk of advanced prostate cancer.     

Inverse relation between dietary intake of naturally occurring plant sterols and serum cholesterol in northern Sweden

BACKGROUND: Plant sterols are bioactive compounds, found in all vegetable foods, which inhibit cholesterol absorption. Little is known about the effect of habitual natural dietary intake of plant sterols. OBJECTIVE: We investigated the relation between plant sterol density (in mg/MJ) and serum concentrations of cholesterol in men and women in northern Sweden. DESIGN: The analysis included 37 150 men and 40 502 women aged 29-61 y, all participants in the V?sterbotten Intervention Program. RESULTS: Higher plant sterol density was associated with lower serum total cholesterol in both sexes and with lower LDL cholesterol in women. After adjustment for age, body mass index (in kg/m(2)), and (in women) menopausal status, men with high plant sterol density (quintile 5) had 0.15 mmol/L (2.6%) lower total serum cholesterol (P for trend = 0.001) and 0.13 mmol/L (3.1%) lower LDL cholesterol (P = 0.062) than did men with low plant sterol density (quintile 1). The corresponding figures for women were 0.20 mmol/L (3.5%) lower total serum cholesterol (P for trend < 0.001) and 0.13 mmol/L (3.2%) lower LDL cholesterol (P for trend = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The present study is the second epidemiologic study to show a significant inverse relation between naturally occurring dietary plant sterols and serum cholesterol. To the extent that the associations found truly mirror plant sterol intake and not merely a diet high in vegetable fat and fiber, it highlights the importance of considering the plant sterol content of foods both in primary prevention of cardiovascular disease and in the dietary advice incorporated into nutritional treatment of patients with hyperlipidemia.     

A prospective study of green tea consumption and oral cancer incidence in Japan

PURPOSE: To examine the relation of green tea consumption with oral carcinogenesis, we prospectively analyzed data from a nationwide large-scale cohort study in Japan. METHODS: A total of 20,550 men and 29,671 women aged 40-79 years, without any history of oral and pharyngeal cancer at baseline survey, were included in the present study. During a mean follow-up period of 10.3 years, 37 oral cancer cases were identified. The Cox proportional hazard model was used to estimate the hazard ratio (HR) and 95% confidence interval (95% CI) for oral cancer according to green tea consumption by sex, while adjusting for age, smoking, alcohol drinking, and other dietary factors. RESULTS: For women, the HRs of oral cancer for green tea consumption of 1-2, 3-4, and 5 or more cups per day were 0.51 (95% CI: 0.10-2.68), 0.60 (95% CI: 0.17-2.10), and 0.31 (95% CI: 0.09-1.07), respectively, compared with those who drank less than one cup per day (p for trend, 0.08). For men, no such trends were observed. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings did not suggest a prominent inverse association of green tea consumption with oral cancer, although there was a tendency for a reduced risk in women.     

Dietary fat saturation affects apolipoprotein AII levels and HDL composition in postmenopausal women.

Increased HDL-cholesterol levels have been associated with lower coronary heart disease (CHD) risk. However, HDL are heterogeneous lipoproteins, and particles enriched in apolipoprotein (Apo) AII have been associated with increased CHD risk. We examined the effect of dietary intervention on HDL composition in 14 postmenopausal women subjected to two consecutive diet periods, i.e., an oleic acid sunflower oil diet followed by a palmolein diet, each lasting 4 wk. The linoleic acid was kept at 4% total energy and the cholesterol intake at 400 mg/d. The palmolein diet increased serum total cholesterol (TC) (P < 0.001), phospholipids (P < 0.001), Apo AII (P < 0.001), HDL cholesterol (P < 0.05), HDL lipids (P < 0.05), HDL proteins (P < 0.01) and the HDL total mass (P < 0.05). The HDL cholesterol/Apo AI ratio was increased 22.0% (P < 0.05), whereas the HDL cholesterol/Apo AII and the Apo AI/Apo AII ratios were decreased 19.4% (P < 0.01) and 30.4%, (P < 0.001), respectively. When the effects of the dietary intervention were examined according to the cholesterolemia status (< or >6.2 mmol/L), the most significant changes (P < 0.001) were related to Apo AII levels. Moreover, a significant dietary oil by cholesterol level interaction was found for Apo AII and the HDL cholesterol/Apo AII ratio. In summary, a palmolein diet increased TC and HDL cholesterol compared with oleic acid sunflower oil diet; however, the increase in Apo AII but not in Apo AI suggests the impairment of reverse cholesterol transport and potentially an increase in CHD risk. This effect was more marked in women with serum TC > 6.2 mmol/L.     

Coffee, caffeine, and serum cholesterol in Japanese men in Hawaii

The relationship between coffee consumption and serum cholesterol was investigated in a cohort of 5,858 Japanese males born in 1900-1919 and living in Hawaii in 1965 who are currently followed by the Honolulu Heart Program. Data on coffee consumption, other dietary variables from a 24-hour dietary recall, and other potentially confounding variables collected in 1965 were correlated with serum cholesterol at that examination and at examination six years later. The mean coffee and tea consumption was 3.4 and 1.8 cups/day, respectively. Those consuming no coffee had a mean serum cholesterol of 210 mg/dl, while that of those drinking 9+ cups/day was 220 mg/dl (no such relationship was apparent with tea or cola). The relationship of coffee consumption and serum cholesterol with potentially confounding variables including body mass index, cigarette smoking, diastolic blood pressure, alcohol consumption, physical activity index, serum glucose, serum uric acid, education, age, and fat consumption was examined. When these variables were entered into a multiple regression equation with coffee consumption, a significant relationship between coffee consumption and serum cholesterol (p less than 0.001) persisted, as did that between baseline coffee consumption and serum cholesterol six years later (p less than 0.001). There was no significant relationship between tea or cola, the other major caffeine contributors to the diet, and baseline serum cholesterol. Thus, this analysis indicates a significant positive relationship between coffee consumption and serum cholesterol which is not present with other sources of caffeine.     

Increase in body fatness as a major determinant of changes in serum total cholesterol and high density lipoprotein cholesterol in young men over a 10-year period

Serum cholesterol rises with age in most Western (and Westernized) populations. To identify causes of this rise, the authors studied 315 young Dutch men in 1976 in the district of Utrecht, The Netherlands, when they were aged 18 or 19 years, and again in various towns in the same region 10 years later, in 1986. These men formed the lower and upper quartiles of the distribution of changes in body mass index (weight (kg)/height (m)2) from 1976 to 1986 in a larger cohort of men representative of all Dutch men aged 18 or 19 years in 1976. In 10 years, mean serum total cholesterol (+/- standard deviation) had increased by 1.20 +/- 0.88 mmol/liter (46 +/- 34 mg/100 ml), and high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol had decreased by 0.12 +/- 0.21 mmol/liter (4.6 +/- 8.1 mg/100 ml). The mean increase in body mass index was 2.7 +/- 2.5 kg/m2, and the mean increase in body fat percentage (assessed from skinfolds) was 3.3 +/- 4.6 g/100 g. The mean subscapular:tricipital skinfold thickness ratio--an indicator of body fat distribution--had not changed. In multiple regression analysis, the change in body mass index was the only significant (p less than 0.001) determinant of changes in serum total cholesterol; an increase of 1 kg/m2 in body mass index was associated with an increase of 0.20 mmol/liter (standard error, 0.02) in serum total cholesterol. Changes in body mass index and in smoking habits both contributed significantly toward explanation of changes in HDL cholesterol and in the HDL cholesterol:total cholesterol ratio. If smoking habits were adjusted for, HDL cholesterol decreased by 0.02 mmol/liter and the HDL cholesterol:total cholesterol ratio decreased by 0.012 (standard error, 0.001) for every 1 kg/m2 increase in body mass index. Changes in body fat distribution, as assessed by skinfold ratio, were not associated with changes in lipids. By interpolation, the authors estimated that for the full cohort of men, including the second and third quartile of body mass index changes, the mean rise in cholesterol had been 1.15 mmol/liter (44 mg/100 ml), of which 0.47 mmol/liter could be explained by the estimated rise in body mass index of 2.4 kg/m2. An increase in body fatness between ages 19 and 29 years is a powerful determinant of the rise in total cholesterol and the fall in HDL cholesterol occurring over that period of time.     

Coffee, tea, and incident type 2 diabetes: the Singapore Chinese Health Study

BACKGROUND: Increasing coffee intake was inversely associated with risk of type 2 diabetes in populations of European descent; however, data from high-risk Asian populations are lacking as are data on tea intake in general. OBJECTIVE: We investigated the prospective associations between intakes of coffee, black tea, and green tea with the risk of type 2 diabetes in Singaporean Chinese men and women. DESIGN: We analyzed data from 36 908 female and male participants in the Singapore Chinese Health Study aged 45-74 y in 1993-1998 who had multiple diet and lifestyle measures assessed and then were followed up between 1999 and 2004. We used Cox regression models to investigate the association of baseline coffee and tea intakes with incident type 2 diabetes during follow-up, with adjustment for a number of possible confounding or mediating variables. RESULTS: In multivariate models participants reporting > or =4 cups of coffee/d had a 30% reduction in risk of diabetes [relative risk (RR): 0.70; 95% CI: 0.53, 0.93] compared with participants who reported nondaily consumption. Participants reporting > or =1 cup of black tea/d had a suggestive 14% reduction in risk of diabetes (RR: 0.86; 95% CI: 0.74, 1.00) compared with participants who reported 0 cups/d, and we observed no association with green tea. CONCLUSION: Regular consumption of coffee and potentially black tea, but not green tea, is associated with lower risk of type 2 diabetes in Asian men and women in Singapore.     

Life-style correlates of risk factor change in young adults: an eight-year study of coronary heart disease risk factors in the Framingham offspring

This paper describes the life-style and behavioral correlates of change in coronary heart disease risk factors measured eight years apart in the young adult offspring of the Framingham Heart Study cohort. Changes in total cholesterol, lipoprotein cholesterols (high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, very low density lipoprotein (VLDL) cholesterol), and blood pressure were observed longitudinally in 397 men and 497 women who were aged 20-29 years at entry into the study. Stepwise multiple linear regression procedures were used to identify characteristics and their changes that were significantly associated with risk factor changes in each sex. The attribute most strongly and consistently related to lipoprotein and blood pressure changes in both sexes was change in body mass index (p less than or equal to 0.01 or p less than or equal to 0.001). In addition to weight gain, increases in alcohol consumption in men (p less than or equal to 0.001) and beginning oral contraceptive use in women (p less than or equal to 0.01) were associated with increases in blood pressure over the study period. Weight loss, stopping or decreasing cigarette consumption (p less than or equal to 0.01), increasing alcohol intake (p less than or equal to 0.01), and, in women, discontinuing oral contraceptive use (p less than or equal to 0.01) also were independently related to improvements in lipoprotein profiles during follow-up. After adjustment for all life-style correlates of risk factor change, simple self-assessments of physical activity or activity change were negatively associated with changes in VLDL cholesterol (p less than or equal to 0.01) and the total cholesterol/HDL cholesterol ratio (p less than or equal to 0.05) in men and positively associated with changes in HDL cholesterol (p less than or equal to 0.05) in women. Sociodemographic and behavioral characteristics that made a further independent contribution to increases in the total cholesterol/HDL cholesterol ratio in men were blue-collar occupation and trait Type A behavior pattern (p less than or equal to 0.05). Unexplained, but provocative, results of this study included the associations of interim vasectomy with increases in total cholesterol in men (p less than or equal to 0.05) and of number of livebirths with decreases in total cholesterol and HDL cholesterol in women (p less than or equal to 0.01). These findings are among the first to offer prospective evidence which suggests that habits and behaviors during young adulthood have a substantial effect on lipid and lipoprotein profiles in men and women.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)