Source Divison of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Fort Sam Houston, TX, 78234; Wilford Hall USAF Medical Center, Fort Sam Houston, TX, 78234.

Coffee caffeine consumption (CC) is associated with reduced hepatic fibrosis in patients with chronic liver diseases such as hepatitis C. The association of caffeine consumption with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has not been established. The aim of this study was to correlate CC with the prevalence and severity of NAFLD. Patients involved in a previously published NAFLD prevalence study as well as additional NASH patients identified in the Brooke Army Medical Center Hepatology clinic were queried about their caffeine intake.

A validated questionnaire for CC was utilized to assess for a relationship between caffeine and 4 groups: US negative (controls), bland steatosis/not-NASH, NASH stage 0-1, and NASH stage 2-4. 306 patients responded to the CC questionnaire. Average milligrams of total caffeine/coffee CC per day in controls, bland steatosis/not-NASH, NASH stage 0-1, and NASH stage 2-4 were 307/228, 229/160, 351/255, and 252/152 respectively. When comparing the patients with bland steatosis/not-NASH to those with NASH stage 0-1, there was a significant difference in caffeine consumption between the two groups (p = 0.005). Additionally, when comparing the patients with NASH stage 0-1 to those with NASH stage 2-4, there was a significant difference in coffee CC (p = 0.016). Spearman's rank correlation analysis further supported a negative relationship between coffee CC and hepatic fibrosis (r = -0.215, p = 0.035).

CONCLUSION: Coffee caffeine consumption is associated with a significant reduction in risk of fibrosis among NASH patients.