title: Coffee and tea consumption and risk of hepatocellular carcinoma in Italy.
abstract: The role of coffee in the aetiology of hepatocellular carcinoma has raised great interest. In Italy, coffee consumption is high, thus allowing the investigation of the topic over a broad range of consumption. A hospital-based case-control study was conducted in Italy in 1999-2002, including 185 incidents, histologically confirmed cases of hepatocellular carcinoma aged 43-84 years. Controls were 412 subjects admitted to the same hospitals' networks for acute, non-neoplastic diseases unrelated to diet. Coffee and tea consumption were assessed using a validated food-frequency questionnaire. Odds ratios (ORs) and corresponding the 95% confidence intervals (CI) were computed using unconditional multiple logistic regression, adjusting for hepatitis viruses seropositivity, alcohol intake, smoking habits and other potential confounding factors. Compared to people who drunk <14 cups/week of coffee, the risk of hepatocellular carcinoma decreased for increasing levels of consumption (OR=0.4, 95% CI: 0.2-1.1 for >or=28 cups/week, p for trend = 0.02). In the present study, inverse relations were observed across strata of hepatitis C and, B virus infections and alcohol drinking. No significant association emerged with consumption of decaffeinated coffee (OR=0.7, 95% CI=0.2-2.5) or tea (OR=1.4, 95% CI=0.8-2.7). The present study supports the hypothesis of a favourable effect of coffee, though not decaffeinated coffee and tea, on the risk on hepatocellular carcinoma.
authors.affiliation: Servizio di Epidemiologia, Istituto Tumori Fondazione Pascale, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Maurizio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Montella
authors.forename: Jerry
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Polesel
authors.forename: Carlo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: La Vecchia
authors.forename: Luigino
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Dal Maso
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Crispo
authors.forename: Marina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Crovatto
authors.forename: Pietro
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Casarin
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Izzo
authors.forename: Luigi Gabriele
authors.initials: LG
authors.lastname: Tommasi
authors.forename: Renato
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Talamini
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Franceschi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000821:virology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003069:Coffee; D005260:Female; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000472:pathogenicity; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000472:pathogenicity; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000453:epidemiology; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000821:virology; D008223:Lymphoma / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000821:virology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013662:Tea
chemical_list: D003069:Coffee; D013662:Tea