Baseline characteristics of the study subjects and beverages consumption according to baseline ALT levels.

<p><i>P</i> values of characteristics and beverages consumption between categories of baseline ALT levels were calculated by analysis of chi-square test or Fisher's exact test and Kruskal-Wallis test.</p><p>SD, standard deviation; ALT, alanine aminotransferase; BMI, body mass index</p><p>^* 182 patients among the normal ALT group and 107 patients among the higher ALT group were analyzed; the duration of HCV infection could not be calculated in 87 patients due to lack of information.