Some previous studies have found that coffee helps to heal nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).
Whether this is true of both caffeinated and decaffeinated coffee has not been known.
A new study in the journal Nutrients reveals the truth, and the results may surprise you.
The authors were curious about whether the benefits of coffee for NAFLD patients were due to the caffeine or the non-caffeine ingredients, such as polyphenols and other natural chemicals.
Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a group of liver conditions that happens when fat builds up in the liver. This can lead to liver fibrosis (severe fat buildup), which can progress to cirrhosis (liver scarring) and even liver cancer.
Because NAFLD is caused by a sedentary lifestyle and a high-calorie diet, it is common in people who are overweight and have type 2 diabetes.
The scientists recruited 156 overweight subjects, 87% of whom had diabetes. Of the diabetic participants, 98 provided a 24-hour urine sample so that the different types of coffee metabolites could be recorded.
The investigation yielded the following results.
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1. Those with high total coffee metabolites, both caffeine and non-caffeine, had low scores on the fatty liver index, while those with low coffee metabolites had high scores.
2. Total coffee metabolites were higher for those with no liver fibrosis than for those with fibrosis.
3. Examined separately, both caffeine and non-caffeine ingredients of coffee were linked with lower fatty liver index scores.
These results mean that both caffeine and non-caffeine ingredients are responsible for the positive effect of coffee on NAFLD.