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Coffee consumption linked to reduced liver fibrosis
Drinking coffee was associated with lower liver stiffness – a non-invasive measure used to estimate liver fibrosis – in people with hepatitis B, hepatitis C and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), researchers reported at the 2015 AASLD Liver Meeting last week in San Francisco, USA. The study also showed a trend toward less liver fat build-up in people with NAFLD.
Over years or decades, chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) or hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection can lead to serious liver disease including cirrhosis (scarring), hepatocellular carcinoma (a type of liver cancer) and liver failure necessitating a transplant. NAFLD – fat in the liver not related to alcohol use – can lead to the same outcomes. As HBV vaccination and effective new treatments for hepatitis C reduce liver disease due to viral hepatitis, NAFLD is expected to become a major indication for liver transplantation, given rising rates of obesity.
Alexander Hodge of Monash Medical Centre in Melbourne, Australia, and colleagues conducted a retrospective, cross-sectional study to see whether coffee consumption leads to improvements in non-invasive markers of liver fibrosis and steatosis (fat accumulation).
In prior studies, coffee consumption has been linked to a wide range of health benefits including reduced risk of type 2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome and several types of cancer, the researchers noted as background. It may have a particularly beneficial effect on the liver, being associated with lower liver enzyme levels and reduced cirrhosis and liver cancer. It is not yet known whether these benefits are related to caffeine or other components of coffee such as antioxidants or other phytochemicals. Some studies suggest caffeine and other chemicals in coffee may dampen inflammation and reduce collagen production.
In this study, liver health was assessed using transient elastography or FibroScan. Although liver biopsy has traditionally been considered the 'gold standard' for determining the extent of liver injury, clinicians are increasingly using less expensive non-invasive methods.
Transient elastography uses shear waves to assess liver elasticity or 'stiffness'. Higher liver stiffness scores (expressed in kiloPascals or kPa) indicate more extensive liver damage. A score below 6-7 kPa suggests absent or mild fibrosis (stage F0-F1) while a score above 13-14 kPa suggests cirrhosis (stage F4) in people with viral hepatitis.
Another transient elastography measure, the controlled attenuation parameter or CAP (expressed in decibels per meter or dB/m), is used to assess liver steatosis. Fat blocks propagation of ultrasound waves, so greater attenuation suggests more steatosis. Scores range from 100 to 400, with a score above 250 suggesting significant steatosis.
The researchers collected data on self-reported coffee and alcohol consumption – as well as the type of coffee (instant, espresso, filtered or boiled) – among all patients with hepatitis B, hepatitis C or NAFLD undergoing transient elastometry at their hospital clinic between May 2012 and November 2013. They also obtained information about demographic characteristics, weight and body mass index (BMI), smoking and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) liver enzyme levels.
Over 18 months, the researchers evaluated 1130 people, including 529 (47%) with hepatitis B, 434 (38%) with hepatitis C and 167 (15%) with NAFLD. Overall, 57% were men, the average age was 48 years and a quarter were smokers. The average BMI was 25.7 kg/m2 and the mean ALT level was 39 IU/L among people with available measurements.
Most participants reported that they consumed some coffee, with a median of one cup per day but ranging up to 20 cups daily; 72% reported drinking instant coffee and 24% drank espresso, with only a small number (1-2%) drinking filtered, boiled or decaf coffee. Average daily alcohol consumption was about 5 g/day.
The median liver stiffness score across all participants was 6.1 kPa, suggesting absent to mild fibrosis. However, people with HBV had lower scores than those with HCV or NAFLD (median 5.3, 7.1 and 7.4, respectively).
Among people with available controlled attenuation parameter data, the overall mean CAP score was 214 dB/m, rising above the steatosis threshold only for those with NAFLD (mean 201, 210 and 258, respectively).
People with hepatitis C who drank two or more cups of coffee daily had a 13% reduction in liver stiffness after taking into account confounding factors including age, sex, weight, alcohol consumption and smoking – a significant association. People with hepatitis B who drank four or more cups of coffee had a significant 18% reduction in liver stiffness in an adjusted analysis including ALT. There were no significant associations between coffee consumption and CAP scores among people with hepatitis B or C.
Among people with NAFLD, those who drank four or more cups of coffee daily had a 24% decrease in liver stiffness in an adjusted analysis. Greater coffee consumption showed a trend towards an association with lower CAP scores in people with NAFLD, but this fell short of statistical significance. Coffee consumption had no effect on CAP in people with hepatitis B or C.
Based on these findings, the researchers concluded that "coffee consumption is associated with less liver stiffness in patients with NAFLD, HCV and HBV, [and a] trend to less hepatic steatosis in [patients with] NAFLD."
These findings, they said, "add to the growing body of evidence suggesting coffee may be a beneficial supplement in some liver diseases."
Over years or decades, chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) or hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection can lead to serious liver disease including cirrhosis (scarring), hepatocellular carcinoma (a type of liver cancer) and liver failure necessitating a transplant. NAFLD – fat in the liver not related to alcohol use – can lead to the same outcomes. As HBV vaccination and effective new treatments for hepatitis C reduce liver disease due to viral hepatitis, NAFLD is expected to become a major indication for liver transplantation, given rising rates of obesity.
Alexander Hodge of Monash Medical Centre in Melbourne, Australia, and colleagues conducted a retrospective, cross-sectional study to see whether coffee consumption leads to improvements in non-invasive markers of liver fibrosis and steatosis (fat accumulation).
In prior studies, coffee consumption has been linked to a wide range of health benefits including reduced risk of type 2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome and several types of cancer, the researchers noted as background. It may have a particularly beneficial effect on the liver, being associated with lower liver enzyme levels and reduced cirrhosis and liver cancer. It is not yet known whether these benefits are related to caffeine or other components of coffee such as antioxidants or other phytochemicals. Some studies suggest caffeine and other chemicals in coffee may dampen inflammation and reduce collagen production.
In this study, liver health was assessed using transient elastography or FibroScan. Although liver biopsy has traditionally been considered the 'gold standard' for determining the extent of liver injury, clinicians are increasingly using less expensive non-invasive methods.
Transient elastography uses shear waves to assess liver elasticity or 'stiffness'. Higher liver stiffness scores (expressed in kiloPascals or kPa) indicate more extensive liver damage. A score below 6-7 kPa suggests absent or mild fibrosis (stage F0-F1) while a score above 13-14 kPa suggests cirrhosis (stage F4) in people with viral hepatitis.
Another transient elastography measure, the controlled attenuation parameter or CAP (expressed in decibels per meter or dB/m), is used to assess liver steatosis. Fat blocks propagation of ultrasound waves, so greater attenuation suggests more steatosis. Scores range from 100 to 400, with a score above 250 suggesting significant steatosis.
The researchers collected data on self-reported coffee and alcohol consumption – as well as the type of coffee (instant, espresso, filtered or boiled) – among all patients with hepatitis B, hepatitis C or NAFLD undergoing transient elastometry at their hospital clinic between May 2012 and November 2013. They also obtained information about demographic characteristics, weight and body mass index (BMI), smoking and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) liver enzyme levels.
Over 18 months, the researchers evaluated 1130 people, including 529 (47%) with hepatitis B, 434 (38%) with hepatitis C and 167 (15%) with NAFLD. Overall, 57% were men, the average age was 48 years and a quarter were smokers. The average BMI was 25.7 kg/m2 and the mean ALT level was 39 IU/L among people with available measurements.
Most participants reported that they consumed some coffee, with a median of one cup per day but ranging up to 20 cups daily; 72% reported drinking instant coffee and 24% drank espresso, with only a small number (1-2%) drinking filtered, boiled or decaf coffee. Average daily alcohol consumption was about 5 g/day.
The median liver stiffness score across all participants was 6.1 kPa, suggesting absent to mild fibrosis. However, people with HBV had lower scores than those with HCV or NAFLD (median 5.3, 7.1 and 7.4, respectively).
Among people with available controlled attenuation parameter data, the overall mean CAP score was 214 dB/m, rising above the steatosis threshold only for those with NAFLD (mean 201, 210 and 258, respectively).
People with hepatitis C who drank two or more cups of coffee daily had a 13% reduction in liver stiffness after taking into account confounding factors including age, sex, weight, alcohol consumption and smoking – a significant association. People with hepatitis B who drank four or more cups of coffee had a significant 18% reduction in liver stiffness in an adjusted analysis including ALT. There were no significant associations between coffee consumption and CAP scores among people with hepatitis B or C.
Among people with NAFLD, those who drank four or more cups of coffee daily had a 24% decrease in liver stiffness in an adjusted analysis. Greater coffee consumption showed a trend towards an association with lower CAP scores in people with NAFLD, but this fell short of statistical significance. Coffee consumption had no effect on CAP in people with hepatitis B or C.
Based on these findings, the researchers concluded that "coffee consumption is associated with less liver stiffness in patients with NAFLD, HCV and HBV, [and a] trend to less hepatic steatosis in [patients with] NAFLD."
These findings, they said, "add to the growing body of evidence suggesting coffee may be a beneficial supplement in some liver diseases."
Best Answer
Are we talking here Caffinated or decaffinated? 8kpa I drink four cups of coffee a day one from Starbucks the rest at home.
i agree that coffee has a got impact on your liver, but drinking more than 1,2 cups of coffee a day will have an impact on blood pressure . for me at least, after i drink 2 strong cups of coffee i feel very agitated and shaky .
I dont drink it a lot 1/3cup with milk twice a day.and somedays a Small cup aftrernoon with freinds.no fibrosis .and i try to drink it more
forgot vit k2.....it takes heart diseases away even with high cholesterol/high fats diets (french diet paradox...)
4 cups of coffee are only healthy
http://www.livescience.com/50012-coffee-heart-attack-risk.html
and high cholesterol too is not unhealthy, it is not cholesterol to damage arteries but inflammation then calcium and chol just repair the damage.on a healthy person with low inflammation, high hdl, low glucose, high vitamin c blood levels, high vitamin d blood levels...cholesterol can t make much damage
http://www.livescience.com/50012-coffee-heart-attack-risk.html
and high cholesterol too is not unhealthy, it is not cholesterol to damage arteries but inflammation then calcium and chol just repair the damage.on a healthy person with low inflammation, high hdl, low glucose, high vitamin c blood levels, high vitamin d blood levels...cholesterol can t make much damage
any good tasty coffee, i take it with organic avena milk (nothing unnatrual added), avena is sweet so i dont use sugar on that much coffee
i hear drinking to much coffee leads to high cholesterol, can we find the middle point between clogged arteries and a soft liver !
I am a tea drinker. 0 cup of coffee, that might be one reason having 12.6 kpa fibroscan, I should drink coffee to get benefit. Coffee drinkers could you suggest me what kind of coffee I should drink for better benefit.
Thank you,
Thank you,
mine is stable around 4.5kpa since years but i combo a lot....
4 caps of coffee minimum (i try between 4 and 5 cups because less than 4 is no bnefit for many studies)
4 caps of coffee minimum (i try between 4 and 5 cups because less than 4 is no bnefit for many studies)
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I really like the bit in the article about "up to 20 cups per day." Whoever drinks that much coffee should have a perfect liver if it really helps that much. Haha.