American scientists have found that the regular use of coffee significantly increases the effectiveness of treatment of hepatitis C (HCV) in patients with a progressive course of the disease. The report on the study is published in the journal Gastroenterology.

"Previously, it was shown that drinking coffee reduces the levels of liver enzymes (with inflammation of the liver their levels increase -. Red. ), Slows the progression of the disease and reduces the incidence of liver cancer [in patients with HCV]. We found an independent relationship between the intake of coffee and the concentration of viruses in the blood of patients in treatment, but it needs to be confirmed by further research, "explained the team leader Neal Freedman of the National Cancer Institute.

The study involved 885 patients with HCV who begin the course of standard antiviral therapy - a combination of peginterferon with ribavirin. They all took into account the level of coffee consumption and conducted tests for the content of viral RNA at several stages of treatment.

In the group of participants who did not drink coffee, an early reduction in the concentration of the virus in the blood under the action of drugs came in 46 percent of patients, at the 20th week of treatment the virus was not detected in the blood 26 percent, and 22 percent at 48 weeks. In 11 percent of patients there was a persistent virologic remission, that is, a decrease in the concentration of the virus after the course of treatment persisted for a long time.

Drinking at least three cups of coffee a day, these rates were respectively 73, 52, 49 and 26 percent, which indicates an increase in the effectiveness of therapy by about half. In groups that drank less than one and one to three cups of coffee a day, intermediate values ??of virological indicators.

Thus, regular consumption of large quantities of coffee proved to be an independent factor in increasing the virological response to peginterferon and ribavirin treatment.

News. Gradusnik. En.