The potential role of coffee as a hepatoprotective substance for chronic liver diseases has been widely discussed. Our main aim was to evaluate the effect of coffee intake regarding clinical, biochemical tests and liver biopsy data in treatment naïve patients with chronic hepatitis C. One hundred and thirty-six patients with chronic hepatitis C, diagnosed through liver biopsy, or by means of clinical, ultrasound or endoscopic signs of cirrhosis, were assessed by determination of biochemical tests, metabolic and morphological alterations. Food frequency was scrutinized by using a structured questionnaire. Coffee intake represented more than 90% of the total daily caffeine, and the 75th percentile was 4-Brazilian coffee-cup/day (>255mL/day or >123mg caffeine/day). According to caffeine intake, patients were divided into two groups (< or >123mg caffeine/day). Patients with higher ingestion of caffeine had lower serum levels of aspartate aminotransferase (× upper limit of normal) (1.8±1.5 vs 2.3±1.5, p=0.04), lower frequencies of advanced (F3, F4) fibrosis (23.5% vs 54.5%, p<0.001) and of histological activity grade (A3, A4) observed in liver biopsies (13.8% vs 36.9%, p<0.001). By multivariate logistic regression, fibrosis was independently associated with caffeine intake (OR- 0.16; 95%CI - 0.03-0.80; p=0.026), γ-glutamil transferase serum levels and morphological activity. But only fibrosis was associated with histological activity. In conclusion caffeine consumption greater than 123mg/day was associated with reduced hepatic fibrosis. In addition, this study supports the assumption that coffee intake has hepatoprotective benefits for Brazilian patients with chronic hepatitis C, even in lower doses than that of American and European population intake.

The ingestion of rapid absorption carbohydrates (RAC) can be useful to increase serum glucose. This sudy aimed to assess the effectiveness and applicability of nutritional intervention in hypoglycemic situations suffered by conscious inpatients in a general hospital who were receiving oral diet. Seventy-six patients were eligible. Hypoglycemia was defined as a capillary glucose level of ≥ 50 to ≤ 70 mg/dL. Nutritional intervention consisted in providing 15-24 g of RAC. The level of capillary glucose was checked after 15 to 20 minutes of the intervention. During the studied period, the rate of effectiveness of the nutritional intervention was 97.6%. Results show that the administration of RAC, a non-invasive method, was applicable in a general hospital and was also potentially effective in restoring capillary glucose levels in conscious hypoglycemic inpatients receiving an oral diet.

La ingesta de hidratos de carbono de absorción rápida (HAR) puede ser útil a la glucosa sérica. En este contexto, los principales objetivos fueron evaluar la eficacia y aplicabilidad de la atención nutricional en situaciones de hipoglucemia en el hospital general. Setenta y seis pacientes fueron elegibles. La hipoglucemia se definió como el nivel de glucosa en sangre ≥ 50 a ≤ 70 mg/dL. Intervención nutricional que se ofrecía 15 a 24 gramos de HAR. Hubo una conferencia de glucosa en la sangre después de 15-20 minutos de acción. La tasa de eficacia de la intervención nutricional fue del 97,6% durante el período de estudio. Se concluye que la administración de HAR, un método no invasivo, es aplicable en las unidades de hospital general y fue potencialmente eficaz en la restauración de la glucosa en sangre en pacientes con hipoglucemia, consciente, y con dieta oral.

A ingestão de carboidratos de rápida absorção (CRA) pode ser útil para o aumento sérico de glicose. Neste contexto, os principais objetivos foram avaliar a eficácia e a aplicabilidade da intervenção nutricional em situações hipoglicêmicas apresentadas por pacientes conscientes, com dieta via oral e internados em hospital geral. Setenta e seis pacientes foram elegíveis e a hipoglicemia foi definida como nível de glicemia capilar ³ 50 até £ 70mg/dL. A intervenção nutricional constituiu na oferta de 15 a 24 gramas de CRA. Houve a conferência da glicemia capilar após 15-20 minutos da intervenção. A taxa de efetividade da intervenção nutricional foi de 97,6%, durante o período de estudo. Conclui-se que a administração de CRA, um método não invasivo, foi aplicável em unidades de um hospital geral e foi potencialmente eficaz na restauração da glicemia capilar em pacientes hipoglicêmicos com dieta via oral e conscientes.

A ingestão de carboidratos de rápida absorção (CRA) pode ser útil para o aumento sérico de glicose. Neste contexto, os principais objetivos foram avaliar a eficácia e a aplicabilidade da intervenção nutricional em situações hipoglicêmicas apresentadas por pacientes conscientes, com dieta via oral e internados em hospital geral. Setenta e seis pacientes foram elegíveis e a hipoglicemia foi definida como nível de glicemia capilar ³ 50 até £ 70mg/dL. A intervenção nutricional constituiu na oferta de 15 a 24 gramas de CRA. Houve a conferência da glicemia capilar após 15-20 minutos da intervenção. A taxa de efetividade da intervenção nutricional foi de 97,6%, durante o período de estudo. Conclui-se que a administração de CRA, um método não invasivo, foi aplicável em unidades de um hospital geral e foi potencialmente eficaz na restauração da glicemia capilar em pacientes hipoglicêmicos com dieta via oral e conscientes.

The ingestion of rapid absorption carbohydrates (RAC) can be useful to increase serum glucose. This sudy aimed to assess the effectiveness and applicability of nutritional intervention in hypoglycemic situations suffered by conscious inpatients in a general hospital who were receiving oral diet. Seventy-six patients were eligible. Hypoglycemia was defined as a capillary glucose level of ≥ 50 to ≤ 70 mg/dL. Nutritional intervention consisted in providing 15-24 g of RAC. The level of capillary glucose was checked after 15 to 20 minutes of the intervention. During the studied period, the rate of effectiveness of the nutritional intervention was 97.6%. Results show that the administration of RAC, a non-invasive method, was applicable in a general hospital and was also potentially effective in restoring capillary glucose levels in conscious hypoglycemic inpatients receiving an oral diet.

La ingesta de hidratos de carbono de absorción rápida (HAR) puede ser útil a la glucosa sérica. En este contexto, los principales objetivos fueron evaluar la eficacia y aplicabilidad de la atención nutricional en situaciones de hipoglucemia en el hospital general. Setenta y seis pacientes fueron elegibles. La hipoglucemia se definió como el nivel de glucosa en sangre ≥ 50 a ≤ 70 mg/dL. Intervención nutricional que se ofrecía 15 a 24 gramos de HAR. Hubo una conferencia de glucosa en la sangre después de 15-20 minutos de acción. La tasa de eficacia de la intervención nutricional fue del 97,6% durante el período de estudio. Se concluye que la administración de HAR, un método no invasivo, es aplicable en las unidades de hospital general y fue potencialmente eficaz en la restauración de la glucosa en sangre en pacientes con hipoglucemia, consciente, y con dieta oral.