Caffeine is an alkaloid that is found in plants. It stimulates the central nervous system, making a person feel more alert and awake. Plant-based sources of caffeine include cacao trees, coffee shrubs, yuba mate and tea trees. Coffee, tea, chocolate and many soft drinks contain caffeine. Caffeine does not raise blood cholesterol levels, and research shows conflicting results on whether it increases risk of heart disease. Cholesterol is a fatty substance in the body that is necessary for cell survival, yet can have harmful effects on the body, such as arterial clogging, when there is too much of it.
Consuming Caffeine
The most significant studies on the relationship between caffeine and cholesterol have been conducted on coffee's effects on cholesterol. Coffee is high in caffeine. According to Dr. Michael J. Klag, the vice dean for clinical investigation at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, on msnbc.com, drinking unfiltered coffee can increase overall cholesterol levels. However, it is not the caffeine that causes the increase but oils called terpenes. Terpenes are present only in unfiltered coffees, such as espresso or French press coffee.
A separate study, published in the July 2007 issue of Molecular Endocrinology journal, corroborates these findings. When the researchers removed caffeine from unfiltered coffee, the same cholesterol-raising effects occurred.
The Final Word
While caffeine may have other effects on the body, such as a faster heart rate, research has not shown that caffeine has an effect on cholesterol levels. According to Dr. Klag, consuming caffeine does not increase blood cholesterol levels. Therefore, consuming caffeine in moderation should not cause adverse health risks in an otherwise healthy person.
