Effects of Coffee on Hepatic Steatosis Induced by a High Fructose Diet

Epidemiological studies suggest that coffee consumption improves glucose homeostasis in insulin resistant subjects. An increase in intrahepatic lipids (hepatic steatosis) is highly prevalent in patients with the metabolic syndrome and may be used as a marker of altered hepatic lipid metabolism. Such an increased hepatic lipids content can be experimentally produced in healthy humans by a 6-day high fructose diet.

The purpose of this study is to evaluate whether coffee prevents hepatic lipid deposition in healthy male subjects fed a fructose-rich hypercaloric diet. Both caffeine and antioxidants (yet unspecified) may be involved.. To sort out the role of caffeine and antioxidants, we will test 3 different soluble coffee, ie fully torrefied decaffeinated coffee , partially torrefied decaffeinated coffee, and partially torrefied caffeinated coffee.

Inclusion criteria

• BMI between 19 and 15 kg/m2
• less than 30 min physical activity /day
• habitual coffee consumption less than three cupy /day
• consumption of caffeine-containing sodas less than 2 servings/day
• non-smoker

Exclusion criteria

• consumption of alcohol more than 40g/day
• presence of metallic foreign bodies
• history of eye surgery
• family history of diabetes mellitus
• history of food intolerance
• vegetarians