Genotoxicity coffee

Chronic use of large amounts of caffeine has been associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. However, this finding is debated because statistically adjusting for other risk factors shows a minimized added risk for caffeine (Grobbee et al. 1990). Nonetheless, a lipid fraction of boiled coffee dose-dependently elevates cholesterol and low density lipoproteins, which is prevented by the filtered preparation of coffee (Pirich et al. 1993). Another potential influence on cardiovascular disease is an elevation of homocysteine levels, which also occurs in drinkers of filtered coffee (Nyg rd et al. 1997). Genotoxicity... 

Urgert, R., M. P. M. E. W. Van Der Wouw, R. Hovenier, P. G. Lund-Larsen, and M. B. Katan. Chronic consumers of boiled coffee have elevated serum levels of lipoprotein (A). J Intern Med 1996 240(6) 367-371. Abraham, S. K. Anti-genotoxic effects in mice after the interaction between coffee and dietary constituents. Food Chem Toxicol 1996 3(1) 15-20. Urgert, R., M. P. M. E. Weusten-Van Der Wouw, R. Hovenier, S. Meyboom,... 

Abraham, S. K. Inhibitory effects of coffee on transplacental genotoxicity in mice. Mutat Res 1995 347(1) 45-52. 

Abraham, S. K. and U. Graf. Protection by coffee against somatic genotoxicity in Drosophila role of bioactivation capacity. Eood Chem Toxicol 1996 34(1) 1—14. 

CA240 Abraham, S. K. Inhibition of the in CA249 vivo genotoxicity by coffee. Food Chem Toxicol 1989 27(12) 787-792. 

The mycotoxin ochratoxin A (AAA) (7), which is a possible human carcinogen, continues to receive extensive attention due to its presence in a myriad of foods and beverages (1520, 1521) and its well-established toxicity (teratogenicity, mutagenicity, immunotoxicity, genotoxicity, and carcinogenicity) (1522-1524). Major sources of ochratoxin A are grapes, must, and wine (1525-1533), cereals (1534), beer (1535,1536), dried fruit (1537), roasted coffee (1538), and cocoa products and chocolate (1539). 

Epidemiological studies showed positive association of coffee drinking and cancers of pancreas and ovary (18,19,20), although reports describing negative association are also available (21,22). In an experimental animal study, no carcinogenic activity of coffee was reported (46,47). However, this data should be reconsidered in terms of the genotoxic activities of coffee revealed in bacteria and cultured mammalian cells. 

There have been many epidemiological studies on coffee intake and human cancer. Since we have indentified one of major genotoxic substance in coffee, thorough experimental studies are urgently required to evaluate the hazards of coffee. 

Mycotoxins are defined as mould derived secondary metabolites, Ochratoxin A and aflatoxin B being the most widely studied. Ochratoxin A (OTA), produced by Aspergillus ochraeus and Penicillium verrucosum, can be found as a contaminant in grain, beer, coffee and meat. OTA is nephrotoxic, carcinogenic and genotoxic [235]. 

Hydroxyhydroquinone was formed in the thermal degradation of quinic acid (E.62) (Tressl et al., 1978a). It is a possible emetic constituent of coffee. It has been identified in instant coffee by Hiramoto et al. (1998) as the major source of hydrogen peroxide and as such, responsible for the genotoxic activity of coffee, with a higher activity in coffee than the Maillard-reaction products, FuraneolH (1.100), 3,5-dihydroxy 477-pyran-4-one and 5-hydroxy-5,6-dihydromaltol (1.148). 

Nehlig, A., and G. Debry. 1994. Potential genotoxic, mutagenic and antimutagenic effects of coffee A review. Mutat. Res. 317(2) 145-162. 

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