The relationship between black tea, coffee and caffeine consumption and serum
lipids was examined in eight comparison groups of albino rats of eight weeks old in a
range weight between 128-131 g. Animals given diets for a dditional four weeks. It
contained either black tea or coffee or caffeine (123.3 mg caffeine/100 g diet or 76.8
mg caffeine/100 g diet) without or plus cholesterol (1%), bile salts (0.2%) and tallow
(20%). The mean final body weights gain were not changed (P ~ 0.05) in all groups
exception of coffee group which decreased significantly. The rats fed on diet of coffee
or caffeine (123.3 mg/100 g) had no significant elevation of total cholesterol,
triglycerides, HDL-cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol compared to the negative control
(without cholesterol). Whereas total cholesterol, triglycerides and LDL-cholesterol had
significant increase in coffee plus cholesterol group and caffeine (123.3 mg/100 g diet)
group compared the positive control (hepercholesteroJemic) group. There was no
significant differences in group 7 (black tea plus cholesterol) and group 8 (caffeine
76.8 mg/100 diet) compared to the positive control. The ratio of HDL-cholesterol to
total cholesterol and HDL-cholesterol to LDL-cholesterol were lower (P ~ .0.05) in
group: 5, 6,4 (coffee plus cholesterol, caffeine 123.3mg/100 g diet plus cholesterol
and positive control), respectively. In conclusion, these findings suggest that black tea, coffee and caffeine did not
increase the serum lipids in rats consumed the normal balanced diet. Whereas coffee
and high concentrations of caffeine led to raise the serum lipids in rats fed on high fat
and high cholesterol diet. Black tea had no effect on serum lipids in rats fed on normal
or hyperlipidemic diet.