Regular coffee intake improves liver enzyme levels and liver histology in patients with chronic alcohol consumption, non-alcoholic fatty liver and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis: Report of 259 cases

BACKGROUND AND AIM: This study aims to investigate the effects of chronic coffee consumption (>5 years) and type of coffee in non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), non-alcoholic fatty liver (NAFLD) and patients who have regular alcohol consumption. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this study, 158 healthy individuals and 101 patients with histologically proven NASH were enrolled. The daily amount of coffee intake, amount of alcohol use and type of coffee were calculated for all patients. The degree of steatosis and fibrosis was analyzed by transient elastography and liver ultrasound in non-NASH and by liver biopsy in NASH patients. RESULTS: Patients with a history of coffee consumption (n=132) had lower liver enzyme levels compared to the non-coffee group (n=127) (p=0.001). Serum ALT level was significantly lower [ALT: 21.2±11.7 U/L vs. 56.4±15.6 U/L (p=0.004)], and the liver histopathology was significantly better for patients with a coffee consumption of daily for >5years (p=0.045 for fibrosis score for NASH, p=0.036 for LSM and p=0.015 for CAP measurements for the non-NASH patient). CONCLUSION: Coffee seems to have a positive protective effect on liver histology and liver enzyme levels in healthy individuals, in patients with chronic alcohol consumption, NAFLD and NASH. These results are more prominent in patients who drink coffee on a regular daily base for more than five years.