Coffee Consumption Linked to Lower Risk of Liver Disease

Higher coffee consumption was associated with substantially lower risks of cirrhosis, liver cancer, and liver-related death, while also showing favorable liver imaging and proteomic profiles in a prospective study of nearly 355,000 participants from the UK Biobank. During a median follow-up of 13 years, individuals who drank at least five cups of coffee daily had a 32% lower risk of cirrhosis, a 47% lower risk of hepatocellular carcinoma, and a 42% lower risk of liver-related mortality compared with non-coffee drinkers. Similar benefits were observed for both caffeinated and decaffeinated coffee and remained evident among people who added sugar or artificial sweeteners. In a subgroup undergoing MRI, higher coffee intake was associated with lower liver fat, iron accumulation, and fibroinflammation. Proteomic analyses further suggested biological mechanisms, showing higher levels of proteins linked to healthy liver function and lower levels of markers associated with fibrosis and macrophage activation. These findings indicate that regular coffee consumption, particularly unsweetened coffee, may represent a simple and accessible strategy for supporting liver health and reducing the risk of chronic liver disease. Source: https://www.cghjournal.org/