The effects of acute coffee consumption on gastrin and self-assessed gastrointestinal symptoms

Aims: The aim of the present study was to investigate the acute effects of the consumption of different types of coffee on salivary gastrin concentrations, on self-assessed gastrointestinal symptoms and psychometric assessments. Methods: This is a randomized, blind, cross-over design study. Twenty healthy men and 20 healthy women (age: 20-55 years, Body Mass Index <27 kg/m2) participated in the study. Volunteers came to the laboratory after an 8-hour fasting and consumed in a random order four types of coffee (hot and cold instant coffee, cold espresso, hot filter coffee), containing the same amount of caffeine (160 mg) and with the same volume (200 mL), one week apart. The saliva samples collection for determination of gastrin and the filling of questionnaires regarding the gastrointestinal symptoms and psychometric assessments took place at fasting and 15, 30 and 60 minutes after the coffee consumption, respectively. Blood pressure was measured at the beginning and end of each intervention. Results: All coffees increased gastrin concentrations with no significant differences between them. Moreover, no differences were found for self-assessed gastrointestinal symptoms, psychometric indices and blood pressure between coffees. Conclusions: Coffee consumption had no acute effects on salivary gastrin concentrations, on gastrointestinal symptoms or on psychometric indices.