Chapter 62 - Coffee and the Liver: An Overview of Epidemiologic Studies

Abstract Coffee consumption is associated with decreased levels of liver enzyme activities, gamma-GT and aminotransferases (especially when alcohol consumption or increased body mass index are present), a decreased risk of cirrhosis, compensated or not, and of death from cirrhosis (especially from alcoholic cirrhosis), a reduction in fibrosis in various chronic liver diseases and of fibrosis speed of progression in hepatitis C, and with a decrease in the prevalence and incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma. In experimental studies, in animals or in vitro, coffee and some of its components (caffeine, diterpenes, and particularly polyphenols) have shown benefits in term of insulin resistance, lipid metabolism, endothelial function, antioxidant effects (some mediated by Nrf2), apoptosis, glucuronidation, and hepatic fibrogenesis. Therapeutic trials are now awaited.