Commentary
Coffee consumption may have a protective impact on NAFLD and liver fibrosis. However, the evidence from the previous studies is inconsistent. This study comprises two meta-analyses. The first meta-analysis summarizes the effect of coffee consumption on NAFLD in patients who did or did not drink coffee. The second analysis compares the risk of liver fibrosis development between NAFLD patients who did or did not drink coffee.
Of the total collected 321 articles, 11 met the eligibility criteria to be included in the analysis. The risk of NAFLD among those who drank coffee compared to those who did not was significantly lower with a pooled Relative Risk value of 0.77.
In conclusion, regular coffee consumption is significantly associated with a reduced risk of NAFLD. It is also significantly associated with decreased risk of liver fibrosis development in already diagnosed NAFLD patients. Although coffee consumption may be considered an essential preventive measure for NAFLD, this subject needs further epidemiological studies
