Coffee consumption and the development of hepatocellular carcinoma in HBV

Coffee consumption and the development of hepatocellular carcinoma in HBV

The latest issue of Liver International investigates the effect of coffee consumption on the development of hepatocellular carcinoma in hepatitis B virus endemic area.

Coffee consumption is inversely related to the risk of cirrhosis or hepatocellular carcinoma. However, the protective effect of coffee drinking against the risk of hepatocellular carcinoma was not established in HBV-prevalent region. Dr Eun Sun Jang and colleagues from Korea elucidated the relationship between lifetime coffee consumption and the risk of hepatocellular carcinoma development under the consideration of replication status of HBV.

A hospital-based case–control study was performed in 1364 subjects. A total of 258 hepatocellular carcinoma patients, 480 health-check examinees and 626 patients with chronic liver disease other than hepatocellular carcinoma were interviewed on smoking, alcohol and coffee drinking using a standardized questionnaires.

High lifetime coffee consumption was negatively associated with hepatocellular carcinoma

Liver International

After adjustment for age, gender, obesity, DM, presence of hepatitis virus and lifetime alcohol drinking/smoking, a high lifetime coffee consumption was an independent protective factor against hepatocellular carcinoma, in each analyses using healthy and risky control groups respectively. However, the high coffee consumption did not affect the hepatocellular carcinoma risk in patients with HBV after adjustment for HBeAg status, serum HBV DNA level and antiviral therapy.

Dr Jang's team concludes, "A high lifetime coffee consumption was negatively associated with a hepatocellular carcinoma development." "However, this difference of coffee exposure with the hepatocellular carcinoma group was reduced in chronic hepatitis B patients by the dominant role of viral replication."

Liver International 2013: 7(33): 1092–1099
25 July 2013