The effect of different amounts of coffee on energy intake and appetite-related feelings of healhty male volunteers

Purpose: Purpose of the present study is to investigate the effect of different amounts of coffee on appetite-related feelings and on energy intake. Methods: Seventeen healthy males participated in the study. Each of them took part in 3 daily trials in a random order. Participants had to consume a standardized breakfast along with one of the three 200 ml experimental drinks i.e. coffee with 3 or 6 mg caffeine/kg body weight or water. At fasting and at standard time points for the 3 hours following consumption participants rated their feelings in relation to hunger, satiety and desire to eat on 10cm visual analogues scales. At the end of the 3 h period they consumed an ad libitum lunch meal, while investigators recorded their dietary intake. The next day participants recalled what they had consumed during the rest of the experimental day after leaving the lab. Results: Consumption of coffee with 3 mg caffeine reduced hunger feelings at 30 and 60 min compared to water consumption, whereas coffee with 6 mg ingestion decreased desire to eat at 150 and 180 min compared to water consumption (P≤0.05 for all values). No significant difference was observed for the energy intake of the ad libitum meal or in the total day between the three trials. Discussion: The ingestion of different amounts of coffee (~2 and ~4 cups) presents a minor impact on appetite feelings but no effect on energy intake.