title: Caffeine is protective in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), the hepatic manifestation of metabolic syndrome, is the most common cause of primary liver disease. Although recent studies have found that coffee drinking is protective against end stage chronic liver disease, there are scarce caffeine intake data in NAFLD specifically.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the effects of dietary behaviour in NAFLD patients, using four continuous cycles of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (NHANES 2001-2008).
  
  
  METHODS
  Using data from four continuous cycles of NHANES, dietary intake questionnaires that list 62 nutrition components. Logistic regression was used to identify independent predictors of NAFLD among nutrition components after adjustment for potential clinical confounders. All analyses were run using sas 9.1 and SUDAAN 10.0 (SAS Institute Inc., Cary, NC, USA).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 62 nutrient components used for the univariate analysis, 38% were significant (P-value <0.05) in NAFLD with caffeine consumption being higher in the control group (P-value <0.001). The multivariate analysis using demographics, clinical parameters and nutritional components found five factors independently associated with NAFLD [African American Race P-value <0.001); Male gender P-value <0.001); Obesity (BMI ≥ 30) P-value <0.001); Caffeine intake (mg) P-value <0.001) and total plain water consumption (g) P-value ≤ 0.02)].
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our analysis shows that caffeine intake is independently associated with a lower risk for NAFLD suggesting a potential protective effect. These data necessitate further research to elucidate the mechanism by which caffeine can protect against NAFLD.
authors: Center for Liver Disease and Department of Medicine, Inova Fairfax Hospital, Falls Church, VA, USA.
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Birerdinc
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Stepanova
authors: L
authors: L
authors: Pawloski
authors: Z M
authors: ZM
authors: Younossi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002110:Caffeine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004032:Diet; D005234:Fatty Liver / Q000378:metabolism / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D065626:Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease; D009749:Nutrition Surveys; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D002110:Caffeine