Viruses. 2019 Sep 1;11(9). pii: E808. doi: 10.3390/v11090808.
Increased Coffee Intake Reduces Circulating HBV DNA and HBsAg Levels in HBeAg-Negative Infection: A Cohort Study.
Chook JB1, Ngeow YF2, Tee KK3, Lee JWT3, Mohamed R4.
Author information
1
Department of Medical Sciences (DMS), School of Healthcare and Medical Sciences (SHMS), Sunway University, Bandar Sunway, Selangor Darul Ehsan 47500, Malaysia. [email protected].
2
Department of Pre-Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman, Bandar Sungai Long, Selangor 43000, Malaysia.
3
Department of Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur 50603, Malaysia.
4
Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur 50603, Malaysia.
Abstract
Coffee is hepatoprotective and potentially antiviral; however, its anti-hepatitis B virus (anti-HBV) property is not known in humans. This study investigated the influence of coffee drinking behaviour as well as clinical and biochemical profiles of hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) negative participants on circulating HBV DNA and hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) levels at a 24-week interval. Exactly 114 chronically HBV-infected adult participants were enrolled from the University of Malaya Medical Centre (UMMC), Malaysia. A significant reduction of HBV DNA level was observed in those drinking three or more cups of coffee per day, with a median reduction of 523 IU/mL (P = 0.003). Reduction of HBsAg level was observed in those drinking two cups per day, with a median reduction of 37 IU/mL (P < 0.001). Multivariate analysis showed that increased coffee intake (P = 0.015) and lower ALT level (P = 0.033) were the significant predictors for a lower HBV DNA level, whereas increased coffee intake (P = 0.002) and having a family history of HBV infection (P = 0.021) were the significant predictors for a lower HBsAg level. These data suggest that drinking three cups or more coffee per day reduces circulating HBV DNA and HBsAg levels.
KEYWORDS:
antiviral; coffee; hepatitis B virus; surface antigen; viral load