Drinking coffee could reduce the risk of alcohol-related liver
disease.
A US study of 125,580 men and women over 20 years found a 22%
reduced risk of developing alcoholic cirrhosis for each cup of
coffee drank per day.
But tea was not associated with a reduced risk, indicating caffeine
may not be the link, the study in Archives of Internal Medicine
concluded.
Experts warned that even if coffee was protective, reducing alcohol
intake was the only way to avoid liver damage.
The researchers from California looked at health records of
patients who had undergone voluntary examinations between 1978 and
1985.
"The impact of drinking too much on an individual often does vary
dependent on a number of factors, and that may well include
diet"
Spokesperson, Alcohol Concern
By 2001, 330 people were diagnosed with liver cirrhosis, 199 of
whom had cirrhosis due to drinking.
Drinking less than one cup of coffee a day was found to reduce the
risk of alcoholic cirrhosis by 30%; one to three cups by 40%; and
four or more cups by 80%.
There was also a small but non-significant reduction in other forms
of cirrhosis - not associated with alcohol - in coffee
drinkers.
To look at liver damage the team measured certain enzymes in the
blood.
As expected, levels of the enzymes were significantly higher in
heavy drinkers, however those who drank both alcohol and coffee had
lower levels than those who drank alcohol but not coffee, with the
strongest relationship in the heaviest drinkers.
Tea was not found to be associated with a decreased risk of
cirrhosis suggesting that an ingredient other than caffeine is
responsible for the drop.
The researchers said they could not be absolutely sure whether or
not caffeine was the key ingredient because tea drinking was not
particularly popular among the study population.
But identifying the ingredient responsible could open the way for
potential preventive treatment.
Alcohol intake
Writing in the journal, Dr Arthur Klatsky at the Kaiser Permanente
Division of Research in California said: "Even if coffee is
protective, the primary approach to reduction of alcoholic
cirrhosis is avoidance or cessation of heavy alcohol
drinking.
"Assuming causality, the data do suggest that coffee intake may
partly explain the variability of cirrhosis risk in alcohol
consumers.
"Basic research about hepatic coffee-ethanol interactions is
warranted, but we should keep in mind that coffee might represent
only one of a number of potential cirrhosis risk modulators."
A spokesperson for Alcohol Concern said: "The impact of drinking
too much on an individual often does vary dependent on a number of
factors, and that may well include diet.
"It's important that people realise that drinking too much does
have real risks attached to it - including alcoholic liver disease
and other serious long-term health problems.
"The most effective way to protect yourself against the health
consequences of drinking too much is to stay within safe limits -
two to three units a day for a women, and three to four a day for a
man."
Professor Chris Day, who is Professor of Medicine at the Centre for
Liver Research, Newcastle University was impressed by the
findings.
"While the linking of coffee to a reduced risk of cirrhosis has
been suggested before, this study is the largest to date.
"Although the study has not addressed the reason why this reduction
might be, it does emphasise that further research should be
done.
"It should not be forgotten that obesity is also associated with an
increased risk of cirrhosis, a fact often overshadowed by the
emphasis on alcohol," he added.
BBC health
