fig1

Figure 1. Representative scheme of the randomized trial by Cardin et al.^[116], investigating the protective effects of coffee in 40 patients with HCV-related chronic liver disease. Patients were divided in two groups, the first consuming four cups of coffee/day for 30 days and the second abstaining from coffee intake. At the end of this period, there was a cross-over between the two groups. After the withdraw of three patients, the analyses were performed in the remaining 37. Compared to no coffee intake, consuming 4 cups of coffee/day for one month resulted in: a decrease of AST and GGT (A); a reduction in DNA oxidative damage, as demonstrated by the decreased levels of circulating 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine (8-OH-dG) (B); a reduced telomere shortening, with DNA stabilization (C); an increase in apoptosis, with an increased level of the apoptotic marker CK-18 (D); and reduced collagen deposition, as demonstrated by reduced circulating pro-collagen III (E).