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Published on: September 30, 2021
Coffee drinking and hepatocellular carcinoma risk: a meta-analysis
Francesca Bravi1, Cristina Bosetti, Alessandra Tavani
1Laboratorio di Epidemiologia, Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri, Milan, Italy. bravi@marionegri.it
Hepatology (Baltimore, Md.)
|June 21, 2007
Summary
Drinking coffee may significantly lower the risk of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). This meta-analysis confirms a protective association between coffee consumption and liver cancer, suggesting a real benefit.
Area of Science:
- Hepatology and Oncology
- Nutritional Epidemiology
Background:
- Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a significant global health concern.
- Previous research suggests a potential inverse relationship between coffee consumption and HCC risk.
Purpose of the Study:
- To conduct a meta-analysis of published studies quantifying the association between coffee consumption and HCC risk.
- To evaluate the consistency and strength of the coffee-HCC relationship across different study designs and populations.
Main Methods:
- A meta-analysis was performed on ten retrieved studies, encompassing 2,260 HCC cases (6 case-control and 4 cohort studies).
- Quantitative data on coffee consumption and HCC incidence were extracted and analyzed.
- Summary relative risks (RR) were calculated for various levels of coffee intake.
Main Results:
- A significant inverse relationship was observed between coffee drinking and HCC risk (overall RR = 0.59).
- Both case-control (RR = 0.54) and cohort studies (RR = 0.64) showed a protective effect.
- Higher coffee consumption demonstrated a stronger risk reduction (high drinkers RR = 0.45).
Conclusions:
- The meta-analysis provides robust evidence supporting a real inverse association between coffee consumption and hepatocellular carcinoma.
- The findings suggest a potential beneficial role of coffee in liver health, though causality requires further investigation.
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