First, some introductory information regarding the primary source of evidence, The Journal Hepatology -- published on behalf of American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD):
For generations, AASLD has been a catalyst for the investigation and treatment of liver diseases. AASLD upholds the standards of the profession and fosters research that generates improved treatment options for the millions of patients with liver disease.
As the leading organization focused solely on advancing the science and practice of hepatology, AASLD offers scientific educational symposia developed by leading hepatologists. Each event offers Continuing Medical Education (CME) and features expert speakers presenting the finest data in the most current and critical topics of liver disease. Only AASLD events meet the increasing demand of hepatology's growing importance as a medical specialty by providing participants the opportunity to exchange research, discuss outcomes, and interact with colleagues focused on liver and biliary diseases.
The Liver Meeting: AASLD’s Annual Meeting- the premier event in the science and practice of hepatology where the cutting edge in the study and treatment of liver and biliary diseases is defined. The more than 2,000 abstracts submitted undergo an extensive, blinded peer-review process to identify the best selection for presentation in both poster and oral sessions. With four and a half days of courses and workshops, plenary, parallel and poster sessions, scientific exhibits and state-of-the-art lectures, The Liver Meeting meets a wide range of professional needs.
Postgraduate Course: Held each year in conjunction with The Liver Meeting, the postgraduate course highlights a significant issue of liver research facing physicians today.
Digestive Disease Week®: DDW® is sponsored through the partnership of four leading medical societies focused on the digestive system: AASLD, American Gastroenterological Association (AGA), American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ASGE), and Society for Surgery of the Alimentary Tract, Inc. (SSAT). Held in conjunction with DDW®, the AASLD Clinical Research Workshop draws a capacity crowd to discuss key developments in the clinical investigation of liver disease.
Single Topic Conferences: Developed by leading hepatologists, these limited-attendance events focus on the most current and critical topics of liver disease and provide participants the ideal opportunity to exchange research, discuss outcomes, and develop new research interests. Each year, AASLD sponsors two to four Single Topic Conferences in clinical, basic, hepatitis, or pediatric hepatology.
HEPATOLOGY: The official journal of AASLD is the most cited reference on liver and biliary tract information. The publication delivers the latest research findings, as well as other relevant information, to subscribers monthly.
Liver Transplantation: The peer-reviewed, monthly journal of the AASLD and International Liver Transplantation Society, is an excellent source of new data regarding the research and practice of surgery of the liver.
AASLD's membership encompasses ALL professionals dedicated to hepatobiliary discoveries and patient care. Mentoring, the sharing of knowledge, and dedication to professional growth and development are among the core values of AASLD and its members. From complimentary journal subscriptions, to no or reduced registration fees for meetings and educational events, membership in AASLD offers an economical opportunity to learn from, interact with and remain in contact with the leading professionals in the field.
Okay, here's the abstract as published in Hepatology:
Volume 46, Issue 2 , Pages 430 - 435
Published Online: 19 Jun 2007
Copyright © 2007 American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases
Original Article
Coffee drinking and hepatocellular carcinoma risk: A meta-analysis
Francesca Bravi 1 *, Cristina Bosetti 1, Alessandra Tavani 1, Vincenzo Bagnardi 2, Silvano Gallus 1, Eva Negri 1, Silvia Franceschi 3, Carlo La Vecchia 1 4
1Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri, Milan, Italy
2Dipartimento di Statistica, Università degli Studi di Milano-Bicocca, Milan, Italy
3International Agency for Research on Cancer, Lyon, France
4Istituto di Statistica Medica e Biometria, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
email: Francesca Bravi (bravi@marionegri.it)
*Correspondence to Francesca Bravi, Laboratorio di Epidemiologia, Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri, Via Eritrea 62-20157 Milan, Italy
Potential conflict of interest: Nothing to report.
fax: (39) 02-33200231
Funded by:
Italian Association for Cancer Research
Italian League Against Cancer
Italian Ministry of Research (PRIN 2005)
Francesca Bravi is a Fellow of the Rosario Samanin Fund
Abstract
Several studies suggest an inverse relation between coffee drinking and risk of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). We conducted a meta-analysis of published studies on HCC that included quantitative information on coffee consumption. Ten studies were retrieved (2,260 HCC cases), including 6 case-control studies from southern Europe and Japan (1551 cases) and 4 cohort studies from Japan (709 cases). The summary relative risk (RR) for coffee drinkers versus non-drinkers was 0.54 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.38-0.76) for case-control studies and 0.64 (95% CI 0.56-0.74) for cohort studies. The overall RR was 0.59 (95% CI 0.49-0.72), with significant heterogeneity between studies. The overall summary RR for low or moderate coffee drinkers was 0.70 (95% CI 0.57-0.85), and that for high drinkers was 0.45 (95% CI 0.38-0.53). The summary RR for an increase of 1 cup of coffee per day was 0.77 (95% CI 0.72-0.83) from case-control studies, 0.75 (95% CI 0.65-0.85) from cohort studies, and 0.77 (95% CI 0.72-0.82) overall. The consistency of an inverse relation between coffee drinking and HCC across study design and geographic areas weighs against a major role of bias or confounding. Coffee drinking has also been related to reduced risk of other liver diseases, thus suggesting a continuum of the favorable effect of coffee on liver function. However, subjects with liver conditions may selectively reduce their coffee consumption. Conclusion: The present analysis provides evidence that the inverse relation between coffee and HCC is real, though inference on causality remains open to discussion. (HEPATOLOGY 2007.)
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Received: 30 January 2007; Accepted: 5 March 2007
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
10.1002/hep.21708 About DOI
For a more mainstream medical version of this story, please click here to view: MedPage Today: "Analysis Validates Reduced Risk of Liver Cancer by Coffee Drinking."
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