No jolting news.The possible link between coffee consumption and reduced occurrence of alcohol-related cirrhosis cirrhosis (sərō`səs), degeneration of tissue in an organ resulting in fibrosis, with nodule and scar formation. The term is most often used in relation to the liver, because that organ is most often involved in cirrhosis. ("Coffee protects against alcoholic cirrhosis alcoholic cirrhosis n. Cirrhosis that frequently develops in chronic alcoholism, characterized at an early stage by enlargement of the liver due to fatty change with mild fibrosis, and later by Laënnec's cirrhosis with contraction of the liver. ," SN: 6/24/06, p. 397) seems worthy of further study. Although the beneficial effect may be due to any of a variety of coffee ingredients, it would seem rather straightforward to investigate a correlation in caffeinated and decaffeinated de·caf·fein·at·ed adj. Having the caffeine removed: decaffeinated coffee; decaffeinated soft drinks. de·caf beverages. WAYNE H. WARREN JR., GREENBELT, MD. Since tea consumption didn't appear to have any anticirrhosis effect in the study, the pivotal coffee ingredient doesn't appear to be caffeine caffeine (kăfēn`), odorless, slightly bitter alkaloid found in coffee, tea, kola nuts (see cola), ilex plants (the source of the Latin American drink maté), and, in small amounts, in cocoa (see cacao). .--C. BROWNLEE |
|
||||||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion