Synergistic Modulation of Lipid Levels by Coffee and Swimming With Evidence of a Strong Obesity–Dyslipidemia Link: A Preclinical Study

Obesity is a major global health concern closely associated with metabolic disorders, particularly dyslipidemia. Lifestyle interventions such as dietary modification and physical activity can improve lipid regulation. However, the combined effects of coffee intake and exercise on lipid level remain unclear. This preclinical study investigated the effects of long-term Arabica coffee intake and swimming exercise on lipid levels: total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) in obese male Wistar rats. A randomized controlled pretest-posttest design was employed using 30 rats (8-10 weeks old; 200-250 g) randomly divided into five groups: nonobese control, obese control, obese with swimming, obese with brewed Arabica coffee supplementation, and obese with both swimming and brewed Arabica coffee. Obesity was induced by feeding a high-fat diet for 4 weeks (Lee index > 300). Rats in the swimming groups swam freely for 30-50 min per session, 3 days per week, for 4 weeks (07:00-08:00 a.m.) without additional load. Brewed Arabica coffee was administered daily at 400 mg/kg body weight. Significant improvements in lipid levels were observed among the treatment groups. Obese rats treated with both coffee and swimming showed marked reductions in TC, TG, and LDL-C levels, and increased HDL-C concentrations compared with the obese control group. The Lee index showed a very strong positive correlation with TC, TG, and LDL-C; conversely, it showed a very strong negative correlation with HDL-C. The combined treatment yielded the most favorable effects on lipid levels. The combination of coffee supplementation and swimming produced the greatest improvement in the lipid levels of obese rats, characterized by decreased TC, TG, LDL-C levels, and elevated HDL-C concentrations. These findings suggest a synergistic interaction between coffee intake and swimming exercise in improving lipid metabolism, highlighting their potential role in managing obesity-related dyslipidemia.