Coffee caffeine intake negatively associated with hepatic fibrosis in nonalcoholic steatohepatitis
WEDNESDAY, Feb. 8 (HealthDay News) -- Coffee caffeine consumption (CC) substantially reduces the risk of fibrosis in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), according to a study published in the February issue of Hepatology.
Jeffrey W. Molloy, M.D., from Lackland Air Force Base in Texas, and colleagues investigated the correlation between CC and NAFLD. Three hundred six patients, including some from a previous NAFLD study, and additional patients with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), completed a validated questionnaire about CC. Participants were classified as controls (ultrasound negative), bland-steatosis/not-NASH, NASH stage 0 to 1, or NASH stage 2 to 4.
The researchers found that there was a significant difference in CC between patients with bland steatosis/not NASH and those with NASH stage 0 to 1 (P = 0.005), and between those with NASH stage 0 to 1 and NASH stage 2 to 4 (P = 0.016). Based on Spearman's rank correlation analysis, there was a negative association between CC and hepatic fibrosis (r = −0.215; P = 0.035).
"Results demonstrate that in the cohort of patients with NASH, increased intake of coffee confers a significantly decreased risk of advanced fibrosis," the authors write. "Moderate coffee consumption may be a benign adjunct to the comprehensive management of patients with NASH."
One of the study authors disclosed financial ties to Amylin.
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