Therapy
Coffee lowers Lp(a) by up to 11 mg/dL short-term, but boiled coffee raises it long-term, a systematic review of 9 trials and 640 participants (Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr 2018)
Original title: Does coffee consumption alter plasma lipoprotein(a) concentrations? A systematic review
This systematic review by Penson, Serban, Ursoniu, Banach and the Lipid and Blood Pressure Meta-analysis Collaboration examined coffee effect on serum Lp(a), searching literature from inception to 9 January 2016 and identifying six relevant publications describing nine experimental trials, totalling 640 participants. In short-term controlled studies, coffee or coffee diterpene consumption was associated with either a reduction in serum Lp(a) of up to 11 mg/dL (6 trials, 275 participants) or no effect (2 trials, 56 participants). Conversely, one cross-sectional study of 309 participants found chronic consumers of boiled coffee had higher median Lp(a) (13.0 mg/dL, range 0-130) than filtered coffee consumers (7.9 mg/dL, range 0-144). The findings suggest coffee effect on Lp(a) is complex and possibly biphasic over time, with the type of coffee and preparation method influencing the direction of effect.
Original abstract
Coffee consumption alters plasma lipid and cholesterol concentrations, however, its effects on lipoprotein(a) (Lp(a)) have received little study. The aim of this PRISMA compliant systematic review was to examine the role of coffee on serum Lp(a). This study was prospectively registered (PROSPERO 2015:CRD42015032335). PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science and Cochrane Central were searched from inception until 9th January 2016 to detect trials and epidemiological studies investigating the impact of coffee on serum Lp(a) concentrations in humans. We identified six relevant publications describing nine experimental trials of various designs. There were a total of 640 participants across all studies and experimental groups. In short-term controlled studies, consumption of coffee, or coffee diterpenes was associated with either a reduction in serum Lp(a) of ≤11 mg/dL (6 trials, 275 participants), or no effect (2 trials, 56 participants). Conversely, one cross-sectional study with 309 participants showed serum Lp(a) was elevated in chronic consumers of boiled coffee who had a median Lp(a) of 13.0 mg/dL (range 0-130) compared with consumers of filtered coffee who had median Lp(a) 7.9 mg/dL (range 0-144). The effect of coffee on Lp(a) is complex and may follow a biphasic time-course. The type of coffee and the method of preparation appear to be important to determining the effect on Lp(a).
Summary written by lp-a.org from the published abstract; figures as published. Page updated 18 August 2026. Methods.