A research study suggests that daily cup of coffee may lower the risk of liver cancer and other liver diseases, as fresh evidence of coffee’s potential health benefits.
The research, published in the journal Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology revealed that daily coffee consumption is associated with improved liver health, even among people who drink five or more cups a day.
The study was led by liver specialist Dr. Hyunseok Kim from Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. Researchers tracked the health of more than 354,000 people for around 10 years to understand how daily coffee drinking affects the liver.
The results showed that people who drank five cups of coffee a day had a 32% lower risk of liver scarring, a 47% lower risk of developing liver cancer, and a 42% lower risk of dying from liver disease compared with those who drank little or no coffee.
Moreover, the study also found that both regular and decaf coffee were linked to better liver health. This means the protective effects of coffee are likely due to something other than caffeine.
Dr. Kim said the benefits are more likely linked to the powerful antioxidants naturally present in coffee, which help reduce inflammation and fat accumulation in the liver. These improvements were supported by findings from modern MRI scans, which showed healthier liver tissue among regular coffee drinkers, it explained.
Although the study found that coffee may help protect the liver, researchers said it is not a substitute for a healthy lifestyle. Eating a balanced diet, exercising regularly, and following medical advice are still important for preventing liver disease.
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