title: The effect of caffeine and alcohol consumption on liver fibrosis - a study of 1045 Asian hepatitis B patients using transient elastography.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Role of caffeine consumption in chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV)-infected patients and the interaction with alcohol consumption is unclear.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed to investigate the relationship between caffeine and alcohol consumption and liver stiffness in chronic HBV-infected patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Chronic HBV-infected patients who underwent transient elastography examination in 2006-2008 were studied. Advanced fibrosis was defined as liver stiffness > 9 kPa for patients with normal alanine aminotransferase (ALT) or > 12 kPa for those with elevated ALT according to previous validation study. Caffeine and alcohol consumption was recorded using a standardized questionnaire. Excessive alcohol intake was defined as 30 g/day in men and 20 g/day in women.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The liver stiffness of 1045 patients who completed the questionnaire was 8.3 ± 6.2 kPa. Two hundred and sixteen (20.7%) patients had advanced fibrosis. Ninety-five (19.0%) patients who drank ≥ 1 cup of coffee had advanced fibrosis, compared with 121 (22.2%) patients who drank < 1 cup (P = 0.21). The amount of caffeine intake had positive correlation with the amount of alcohol intake (r(s) = 0.167, P < 0.001). Although 231 (22.1%) patients reported alcohol consumption, only 11 (1%) had excessive alcohol intake. The prevalence of advanced fibrosis among patients with mild to moderate alcohol intake (26, 18.8%) was comparable to that among non-drinkers (190, 21.0%) (P = 0.57).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Caffeine intake does not affect liver stiffness in chronic HBV-infected patients. Patients who drink coffee regularly tend to drink alcohol. Most chronic HBV-infected patients do not have excessive alcohol consumption. The prevalence of advanced fibrosis among mild to moderate alcohol drinkers was low in this population.
authors: Department of Medicine and Therapeutics and Institute of Digestive Disease, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China.
authors: Arlinking
authors: A
authors: Ong
authors: Vincent Wai-Sun
authors: VW
authors: Wong
authors: Grace Lai-Hung
authors: GL
authors: Wong
authors: Henry Lik-Yuen
authors: HL
authors: Chan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D000428:Alcohol Drinking; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002110:Caffeine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D054459:Elasticity Imaging Techniques; D005260:Female; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000150:complications*; D006723:Hong Kong; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology*; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D002110:Caffeine; D000410:Alanine Transaminase