Better Hepatitis C Treatment Outcome for Coffee Drinkers

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Better Hepatitis C Treatment Outcome for Coffee Drinkers

An American study finds that coffee consumption may increase the Hepatitis C treatment success rate.

Coffee May Improve Virologic Response to Hep C Treatment

Patients receiving hepatitis C therapy who drink three or more cups of coffee per day are more likely to respond to treatment compared to nondrinkers, according to a study published in the June issue of Gastroenterology.

FRIDAY, June 17 (HealthDay News) -- Patients receiving hepatitis C therapy who drink three or more cups of coffee per day are more likely to respond to treatment compared to nondrinkers, according to a study published the June issue of Gastroenterology.

Neal D. Freedman, Ph.D., M.P.H., from the National Cancer Institute in Rockville, Md., and colleagues investigated the effect of coffee intake on patients receiving therapy for hepatitis C. Coffee intake was assessed in 885 patients before being re-treated with 180 µg/week peginterferon alpha-2a and 1000 to 1200 mg/day ribavirin. Serum hepatitis C virus RNA levels were assessed to indicate virologic response in 466 patients at week 12 (early response), in 320 patients at week 20, in 284 patients at the end of treatment (week 48), and in 157 patients at 72 weeks (sustained response).

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