ABSTRACT

Steatotic liver disease is a major global health burden driven by diet, lifestyle, and alcohol use. Coffee and tea-across their diverse subtypes-contain numerous bioactive compounds with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and metabolic properties, yet their differential effects on liver health remain unclear. We analyzed data from 26 729 UK Biobank participants who underwent liver MRI between 2016 and 2020. Hepatic fibroinflammation (iron-corrected T1 [cT1]), liver iron, and hepatic fat (proton density fat fraction [PDFF]) were measured by MRI. Coffee and tea intake were self-reported. Generalized linear models assessed their associations with hepatic imaging markers. Compared with non-tea drinkers, those consuming 0.5-1, 2-3, 4-5, or ≥ 6 cups of tea per day had lower odds of elevated cT1 (≥800 ms), liver iron (≥1.8 mg/g), and hepatic fat (PDFF ≥ 5%) (OR range: 0.57-0.94). Coffee consumption was inversely related to liver iron and PDFF (OR range: 0.47-0.94). All tea types were associated with lower fibroinflammation, whereas instant, ground, and decaffeinated coffee were associated with lower PDFF and iron levels. Tea, regardless of type, is associated with lower hepatic fat, iron deposition, and fibroinflammation, while coffee shows similar associations for hepatic fat and iron.

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