Coffee linked to lower liver cancer and cirrhosis risk, study finds

Key Points:

• A large UK Biobank study involving 354,957 participants found that drinking coffee is associated with a significantly lower risk of severe liver disease, liver cancer, and liver-related death over an average 13-year follow-up.
• Drinking one to two cups of coffee daily was linked to a 20% reduced risk of cirrhosis and a 31% lower risk of liver-related mortality, with stronger protective effects observed at higher consumption levels.
• Those consuming five or more cups daily experienced up to a 47% reduction in the risk of hepatocellular carcinoma, the most common form of primary liver cancer.
• Biological analyses showed that coffee drinkers had lower liver fat, liver iron, and markers of inflammation and fibrosis, with benefits seen for both caffeinated and decaffeinated coffee, suggesting compounds other than caffeine provide liver protection.
• Although adding sugar or artificial sweeteners slightly reduced coffee’s liver benefits, the study emphasizes coffee as a complementary lifestyle habit rather than a substitute for standard liver health prevention, noting the observational nature of the research limits causal conclusions.