Coffee linked to lower liver disease and cancer risk in large UK study

A cross‑sectional analysis of 354,957 adults aged 40‑69 from the UK Biobank found a clear dose‑response relationship between coffee consumption and liver health. Drinking one to two cups daily reduced the risk of cirrhosis by 20 %, liver cancer by 24 % and liver‑related death by 31 %. Three to four cups cut cirrhosis and cancer risk by about 35 % and death by 41 %. Five or more cups were associated with a 32 % lower risk of cirrhosis, a 47 % lower risk of hepatocellular carcinoma and a 42 % reduction in liver‑related mortality. The protective effect is attributed to coffee’s polyphenols and antioxidants, which appear in both caffeinated and decaffeinated varieties.

Separate research on 436 Norwegian participants with severe mental illnesses reported that moderate coffee intake (up to four cups per day) was linked to longer telomeres – a cellular marker of biological age – suggesting slower cellular aging. The relationship formed an inverse‑J curve, with the longest telomeres observed in the three‑to‑four‑cup group.

Experts caution that coffee should complement, not replace, healthy lifestyle measures such as balanced diet, regular exercise, limited alcohol, and weight management. Excessive intake may cause insomnia, elevated blood pressure, and other adverse effects.