Italian style coffee consumption and metabolically dysfunctional-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD): a cohort population study in Southern Italy

Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is currently the most prevalent chronic liver disease globally, and its incidence is rising consistently along with the prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus and overweight/obesity. Coffee has a unique chemical composition consisting of numerous compounds that contribute to metabolic and liver health. Nevertheless, it is not yet clear what dose of coffee should be safely consumed to positively impact MASLD. The current study aimed to examine the association between the consumption of Italian-style coffee in terms of cups per day, and the protection against MASLD within a cohort from southern Italy. The results indicated that the risk of developing MASLD decreased as daily coffee consumption increased when compared to consuming less than one cup per day (1 cup: 0.479 95% CI 0.244; 0.944; 2 cups: 0.468 95% CI 0.242; 0.905; 3 cups: 0.449 95% CI 0.225; 0.893), with the greatest benefit at 4-6 cups (OR: 0.407; 95% CI 0.186; 0.893). These findings suggest that moderate coffee consumption, specifically Italian-style coffee, may offer potential benefits due to its unique chemical composition and preparation method. This type of coffee may provide specific protective effects on liver and metabolic health. Given its cultural significance and positive metabolic attributes, Italian-style coffee has the potential to be recognized as a functional food for the prevention of MASLD.