Toxicological Risk Assessment of Coffee Oil (Coffee Seed Oil and Spent Coffee Grounds Oil) as a Novel Food with Focus on Cafestol

Coffee oil derived from spent coffee grounds of <i>Coffea arabica</i> is considered a novel food in the European Union (EU), requiring pre-market approval supported by comprehensive toxicological data. The effects of coffee oil on human health, particularly on blood parameters and liver...

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Main Authors: Bernadette Maier, Heike Franke, Steffen Schwarz, Dirk W. Lachenmeier
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-07-01
Series:Molecules
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/30/14/2951
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author Bernadette Maier
Heike Franke
Steffen Schwarz
Dirk W. Lachenmeier
author_facet Bernadette Maier
Heike Franke
Steffen Schwarz
Dirk W. Lachenmeier
author_sort Bernadette Maier
collection DOAJ
description Coffee oil derived from spent coffee grounds of <i>Coffea arabica</i> is considered a novel food in the European Union (EU), requiring pre-market approval supported by comprehensive toxicological data. The effects of coffee oil on human health, particularly on blood parameters and liver enzymes, have been investigated in several studies. This review article summarizes the available toxicological literature on coffee oil, including its bioactive diterpenes cafestol and kahweol, which are known for their potential health effects. Considering the different modes of action of these two diterpenes, moderate consumption of coffee oil may be considered safe for healthy adults. Based on the changes in serum values in humans, this review provides initial estimations of LOAEL, NOAEL, and ADI for these diterpenes. The findings suggest that an intake of 225 mg of coffee oil per day might be considered safe assuming that coffee oil contains about 0.4% diterpenes. In summary, the assessment based on the published data indicates that (i) the consumption of coffee oil contained in any type of prepared coffee appears to be safe because the homeostasis of lipid levels in the blood is not significantly affected, and (ii) a low consumption of coffee oil as such might be acceptable but would require a refined risk assessment considering the exposure levels of the intended food product, which must be provided for novel food approval procedures.
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spelling doaj-art-d059e088ac23402d91769bf5fa4bf1fd2025-08-20T03:08:10ZengMDPI AGMolecules1420-30492025-07-013014295110.3390/molecules30142951Toxicological Risk Assessment of Coffee Oil (Coffee Seed Oil and Spent Coffee Grounds Oil) as a Novel Food with Focus on CafestolBernadette Maier0Heike Franke1Steffen Schwarz2Dirk W. Lachenmeier3Postgraduate Study of Toxicology and Environmental Protection, Rudolf-Boehm-Institut für Pharmakologie und Toxikologie, Universität Leipzig, Härtelstrasse 16-18, 04107 Leipzig, GermanyPostgraduate Study of Toxicology and Environmental Protection, Rudolf-Boehm-Institut für Pharmakologie und Toxikologie, Universität Leipzig, Härtelstrasse 16-18, 04107 Leipzig, GermanyCoffee Consulate, Hans-Thoma-Strasse 20, 68163 Mannheim, GermanyChemisches und Veterinäruntersuchungsamt (CVUA) Karlsruhe, Weissenburger Strasse 3, 76187 Karlsruhe, GermanyCoffee oil derived from spent coffee grounds of <i>Coffea arabica</i> is considered a novel food in the European Union (EU), requiring pre-market approval supported by comprehensive toxicological data. The effects of coffee oil on human health, particularly on blood parameters and liver enzymes, have been investigated in several studies. This review article summarizes the available toxicological literature on coffee oil, including its bioactive diterpenes cafestol and kahweol, which are known for their potential health effects. Considering the different modes of action of these two diterpenes, moderate consumption of coffee oil may be considered safe for healthy adults. Based on the changes in serum values in humans, this review provides initial estimations of LOAEL, NOAEL, and ADI for these diterpenes. The findings suggest that an intake of 225 mg of coffee oil per day might be considered safe assuming that coffee oil contains about 0.4% diterpenes. In summary, the assessment based on the published data indicates that (i) the consumption of coffee oil contained in any type of prepared coffee appears to be safe because the homeostasis of lipid levels in the blood is not significantly affected, and (ii) a low consumption of coffee oil as such might be acceptable but would require a refined risk assessment considering the exposure levels of the intended food product, which must be provided for novel food approval procedures.https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/30/14/2951coffee oilnovel foodcafestolkahweol<i>Coffea arabica</i><i>Coffea canephora</i>
spellingShingle Bernadette Maier
Heike Franke
Steffen Schwarz
Dirk W. Lachenmeier
Toxicological Risk Assessment of Coffee Oil (Coffee Seed Oil and Spent Coffee Grounds Oil) as a Novel Food with Focus on Cafestol
Molecules
coffee oil
novel food
cafestol
kahweol
<i>Coffea arabica</i>
<i>Coffea canephora</i>
title Toxicological Risk Assessment of Coffee Oil (Coffee Seed Oil and Spent Coffee Grounds Oil) as a Novel Food with Focus on Cafestol
title_full Toxicological Risk Assessment of Coffee Oil (Coffee Seed Oil and Spent Coffee Grounds Oil) as a Novel Food with Focus on Cafestol
title_fullStr Toxicological Risk Assessment of Coffee Oil (Coffee Seed Oil and Spent Coffee Grounds Oil) as a Novel Food with Focus on Cafestol
title_full_unstemmed Toxicological Risk Assessment of Coffee Oil (Coffee Seed Oil and Spent Coffee Grounds Oil) as a Novel Food with Focus on Cafestol
title_short Toxicological Risk Assessment of Coffee Oil (Coffee Seed Oil and Spent Coffee Grounds Oil) as a Novel Food with Focus on Cafestol
title_sort toxicological risk assessment of coffee oil coffee seed oil and spent coffee grounds oil as a novel food with focus on cafestol
topic coffee oil
novel food
cafestol
kahweol
<i>Coffea arabica</i>
<i>Coffea canephora</i>
url https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/30/14/2951
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