- A new scientific analysis suggests that drinking multiple cups of coffee a day reduces the risk of liver cancer, liver scarring, and more.
- This adds to a growing body of research linking coffee to good liver health.
- The drink can be part of a strategy to support liver health, according to doctors.
Great news, coffee lovers: A growing body of research suggests the drink may have serious perks for your health. Most recently, a new study found drinking coffee was associated with a lower risk of being diagnosed with a slew of liver issues—and having a lot of coffee seems to offer the most benefits.
The study, published in the journal Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology, analyzed dietary and health data from nearly 355,000 adults who participated in the UK Biobank—the world’s most robust biomedical dataset. None of the participants had liver cancer or cirrhosis (scarring of the liver) at the start of the study; over the course of about 13 years, some were diagnosed with cirrhosis or liver cancer, or died of liver-related causes. However, coffee drinkers were significantly less likely to face these outcomes.
People who drank five or more cups of coffee a day had a 32% lower risk of cirrhosis, 47% lower risk of liver cancer, and 42% lower risk of liver-related death compared to those who drank no coffee. Coffee drinkers also had lower levels of liver fat, liver iron, fibrosis (scar tissue), liver inflammation, and proteins linked to scarring and inflammation, along with higher levels of proteins linked to healthy liver function.
Meet the experts: Anthony Martinez, M.D., hepatologist and associate professor of medicine at the University at Buffalo; Raffi Karagozian, M.D., hepatologist at Tufts Medical Center; Hyunseok Kim, M.D., M.P.H., Ph.D., lead study author and transplant hepatologist at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center
People who drank one to two cups of coffee a day saw some liver health perks, although the sweet spot for coffee consumption and liver health seemed to be around three to four cups. (The researchers noted that five cups of coffee a day is a lot and may have other side effects unrelated to liver health.)
One more thing to note: Both caffeinated and decaf coffee were linked to better liver health. This “suggests that caffeine is probably not the only, or even the primary, driver,” says Hyunseok Kim, M.D., M.P.H., Ph.D., lead study author and a transplant hepatologist at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center.
The link between coffee and liver health isn’t new, but these new findings are particularly compelling. Here’s why your coffee habit may help support your liver health.
Why might coffee support liver health?
Multiple studies have found a link between coffee and liver health. A 2021 study published in BMC Public Health analyzed data from nearly 500,000 people and discovered that, compared with non-coffee drinkers, coffee drinkers had a 21% lower risk of developing chronic liver disease. That reduced risk held up for people regardless of how much coffee they drank. “All types of coffee are protective against chronic liver disease,” the researchers wrote in the study’s conclusion.
An older BMJ Open study analyzed data from more than 2.25 million people and found that having one cup of caffeinated coffee daily was associated with a 20% lower risk of hepatocellular cancer, a common form of liver cancer. People who drank up to five cups of coffee saw their risk lowered by 50%.
What’s behind this correlation? “Coffee contains hundreds of biologically active compounds, not just caffeine,” Dr. Kim points out. Some data, including the latest study, suggest that compounds in coffee—like caffeine, polyphenols (antioxidants), and diterpenes (a class of naturally-occurring chemicals found in the oils of beans)—help to reduce inflammation, lower the risk of scarring, and prevent cancer in the liver, Dr. Kim says. Coffee may also help to reduce oxidative stress, which is linked to DNA damage and a higher risk of disease, according to Raffi Karagozian, M.D., a hepatologist at Tufts Medical Center.
Coffee may even alter the gut microbiota, which can support liver health, according to one scientific review. Good gut health “indirectly benefits the liver by reducing gut-derived endotoxin load—a contributor to liver inflammation,” explains Anthony Martinez, M.D., a hepatologist and associate professor of medicine at the University at Buffalo.
There may be even more to coffee’s benefits than that. “Active research is continuously being conducted about coffee’s impact,” Dr. Karagozian says.
Overall, hepatologists say the drink can be good for liver health. Dr. Martinez calls it “liver-protective.” Dr. Karagozian also suggests drinking coffee to his patients, noting that “daily coffee drinking improves liver health.”
How to drink your coffee for liver health
While many people enjoy their coffee with cream and sugar, drinking your coffee black appears to be most effective for liver health. “While people who added sugar or artificial sweeteners still appeared to benefit, they had slightly less favorable MRI markers of liver fibroinflammation,” Dr. Kim says.
Dr. Karagozian agrees that unsweetened coffee is best. “To maximize the health benefits, added sugar or sweeteners should be avoided,” he says. “These added sweeteners will likely negate the health benefits of coffee, given large servings of simple sugar increase insulin resistance and can further promote fatty liver and worsen the metabolic profile.”
But Dr. Kim says you shouldn’t suddenly load up on coffee based on these findings alone. “For those who already enjoy coffee and tolerate it well, moderate unsweetened coffee can be part of a healthy lifestyle,” he says.
Other ways to support your liver
When it comes to liver health, “coffee is only one piece of the puzzle,” Dr. Kim says. Diet, exercise, and managing underlying health conditions are crucial, too.
“In general, I recommend my patients follow a Mediterranean diet, given this has a well-balanced composition of healthy fats, high protein, low carbohydrates, and minimally-processed food with reduced sugar intake,” Dr. Karagozian says.
Dr. Martinez suggests making broccoli a regular part of your diet, too. Broccoli is rich in glucoraphanin and sulforaphane, which reduce inflammation and oxidative stress in the liver, he says. “Broccoli also contains antioxidants—vitamin C, flavonoids, and carotenoids—that dampen liver inflammation, which is important in slowing disease progression,” he adds.
Dr. Martinez also recommends loading your plate with “powerhouse” vegetables like kale, leafy greens, garlic, beets, and carrots, which reduce the risk of liver inflammation.
Overall, doctors say that doing your best to maintain a healthy lifestyle—and savoring your coffee—will support your liver health. “As always, watch your weight, exercise regularly, and minimize alcohol use to promote healthy liver function,” Dr. Martinez says.
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