Coffee drinking linked to lower risk of liver fibrosis and liver cancer

A study of 355,000 adults tracked for 13 years found that regular coffee consumption is associated with a markedly lower risk of liver disease. Participants who drank five or more cups of coffee daily had about a one‑third lower chance of developing liver fibrosis and nearly half the risk of liver cancer compared with non‑drinkers, while liver‑related mortality was reduced by 42%. Benefits were also observed in people who consumed one to two cups per day, with the strongest association at three to four cups. Blood tests showed higher levels of proteins linked to healthy liver function and lower levels of inflammatory and scar‑forming proteins among coffee drinkers. The protective effect was seen with both caffeinated and decaffeinated coffee. Dr. Ju Dong Yang of Cedars‑Sinai said the findings “support drinking coffee in moderation for those who enjoy it and tolerate it well.” Professor Shelly Lu added that the next research step is to pinpoint the specific coffee compounds responsible for the liver‑protective effect.