A major new study tracking over 350,000 people for 13 years has provided further evidence linking regular coffee consumption to significantly better liver health. The research, which analyzed data from the UK Biobank and was published in a clinical gastroenterology journal, found strong associations between drinking coffee and a lower risk of developing serious liver conditions.
According to the findings, participants who drank five or more cups of coffee per day had a 32% lower risk of cirrhosis, a 47% lower risk of hepatocellular carcinoma (a common liver cancer), and a 42% lower risk of death from liver disease when compared to non-coffee drinkers. The study noted that these protective benefits began to appear with as little as one to two cups per day, with the strongest effects observed in those consuming three to four cups daily.
The research went beyond observational data, using MRI scans and blood protein analysis to investigate the biological mechanisms. These tests revealed that heavier coffee drinkers tended to have lower levels of liver fat, iron, and inflammation. The protective association was found for both caffeinated and decaffeinated coffee, indicating that compounds other than caffeine are likely responsible. However, the study also cautioned that participants who added sugar or artificial sweeteners showed higher markers for liver inflammation and fibrosis.