Patients with Fatty Liver Disease Can Reduce Liver Fibrosis Risk by Drinking Coffee

Caffeine consumption has long been linked with a decreased risk of liver disease and reduced fibrosis in patients with chronic liver disease. Now, new research has shown that drinking caffeinated coffee reduces the risk of advanced fibrosis in those with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).

Findings published in the February 2012 issue of the journal Hepatology, a journal of the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases, revealed that increased coffee intake, specifically among patients with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), decreases risk of hepatic fibrosis.

The steady increase in rates of diabetes, obesity, and metabolic syndrome over the past 20 years has given rise to greater prevalence of NAFLD. In fact, medical professionals now believe NAFLD is the leading cause of chronic liver disease in the United States, surpassing both hepatitis B and C. The majority of patients will have isolated fatty liver, which has a very low probability of developing progressive liver disease. However, a subset of patients will have NASH, which is characterized by inflammation of the liver, destruction of liver cells, and possibly scarring of the liver. Progression to cirrhosis (advanced scarring of the liver) may occur in about 10%-11% of NASH patients over a 15-year period, although this is highly variable.

To enhance understanding of the correlation between coffee consumption and the prevalence and severity of NAFLD, a team led by Dr. Stephen Harrison, Lieutenant Colonel, US Army at Brooke Army Medical Center (Fort Sam Houston; San Antonio, TX, USA) surveyed participants from a previous NAFLD study as well as NASH patients treated at the center’s hepatology clinic. The 306 participants were asked about caffeine coffee consumption and categorized into four groups: patients with no sign of fibrosis on ultrasound (control), steatosis, NASH stage 0-1, and NASH stage 2-4.

Researchers found that the average milligrams in total caffeine consumption per day in the control, steatosis, Nash 0-1, and Nash 2-4 groups was 307, 229, 351, and 252; average milligrams of coffee intake per day was 228, 160, 255, and 152, respectively. There was a considerable difference in caffeine consumption between patients in the steatosis group compared to those with NASH stage 0-1. Coffee consumption was significantly greater for patients with NASH stage 0-1, with 58% of caffeine intake from regular coffee, than with NASH stage 2-4 patients at only 36% of caffeine consumption from regular coffee.

Multiple analyses revealed a negative correlation between coffee consumption and risk of hepatic fibrosis. “Our study is the first to demonstrate a histopatholgic relationship between fatty liver disease and estimated coffee intake,” concluded Dr. Harrison. “Patients with NASH may benefit from moderate coffee consumption that decreases risk of advanced fibrosis. Further prospective research should examine the amount of coffee intake on clinical outcomes.”

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Brooke Army Medical Center