Skip to content
Dr. Grey AI

Supplement

Coffee Pulp Extract

Coffee pulp extract comes from the fleshy fruit around the coffee bean and is rich in polyphenols, plant compounds with antioxidant activity in the lab. In one small study of 25 people, blood levels of BDNF, a protein that supports nerve cells, rose more after coffee fruit concentrate than after caffeine or placebo. That came from one industry-funded trial not yet repeated, and the antioxidant work is lab-only, so the evidence is very limited.

Sources: PMID 23312069

Best evidence
Grade D
Conditions studied
1
Outcomes
2
Graded outcomes
0002

Evidence by condition

  • Strong
  • Moderate
  • Limited
  • Very limited

1 condition, plus general outcomes

General

General: outcomes studied for Coffee Pulp Extract
GradeOutcomeEffectSizeStudiesPeopleStudies list
BDNF Levels

A single small industry-sponsored human study (n=25) found whole coffee fruit concentrate (100mg) increased plasma BDNF by 143% compared to 31% with caffeine alone and minimal change with placebo. The study was funded by Futureceuticals and has not been independently replicated.

Improves (the measure goes up)Moderate effect2 studies25 people

Studies that measured bdnf levels

Antioxidant Status: outcomes studied for Coffee Pulp Extract
GradeOutcomeEffectSizeStudiesPeopleStudies list
Antioxidant Status

In vitro studies show coffee fruit polyphenols (chlorogenic acids, procyanidins, caffeic acid) have antioxidant activity comparable to other plant polyphenol sources. No human studies have measured changes in antioxidant biomarkers from coffee pulp extract supplementation.

Improves (the measure goes up)Small effect2 studies

Studies that measured antioxidant status

Key findings

  • BDNF LevelsImproves (the measure goes up)
  • Antioxidant StatusAntioxidant StatusImproves (the measure goes up)

Shop Coffee Pulp Extract

Third-party tested Coffee Pulp Extract products. The evidence above is limited, so read it before you buy.

  • Grade D

Links to Fullscript, iHerb or Thorne carry our referral, so we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Grades come from the research and never change based on what we earn. Fullscript asks for a free account before it shows its catalog and prices. Full disclosure

Studies cited

3 studies from PubMed

  1. The effect of coffee fruit extract on acute plasma BDNF levelsBr J Nutr, 2013 · PMID 23312069
  2. Polyphenols in coffee pulp: extraction and antioxidant capacityFood Chem, 2013 · PMID 24050181
  3. Coffee by-products: bioactive compounds and their beneficial effectsFood Res Int, 2012 · PMID 26083820