Coffee consumption linked to lower liver disease risk

A study involving over 350,000 participants has found that coffee consumption is linked to a significantly lower risk of liver diseases. According to research published in Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology, individuals who consume five or more cups of coffee per day show a 47% reduction in the risk of liver cancer and a 32% reduction in the risk of cirrhosis compared to those who drink less.

Utilizing data from the UK Biobank, researchers tracked participants over a 13-year period. The study noted that high coffee consumption was also associated with a 42% lower probability of death from liver disease. Biological markers indicated that heavy coffee drinkers had lower levels of fat and iron in the liver, as well as reduced hepatic inflammation and fibrosis.

Notably, the health benefits were observed with both caffeinated and decaffeinated coffee, suggesting that the protective effects may not be solely dependent on caffeine content.