Drinking 3-4 Cups of Coffee Daily May Help Reduce Risk of Liver Disease

Risk factors for liver disease include excessive alcohol consumption, smoking, obesity, diabetes, and having nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. A recent study has found that drinking three to four cups of caffeinated or decaffeinated coffee daily may reduce the risk of developing and dying from liver disease.

For their study, researchers from the University of Southampton used data from 494,585 adults who are part of the UK Biobank. Participants reported coffee consumption using a food-frequency questionnaire. They were followed for an average of 12 years and all cases of liver disease were recorded.

Participants who consumed 3-4 cups of any type of coffee daily were 21% less likely to develop chronic liver disease compared to those who drank no coffee. They were also 20% less likely to develop fatty liver disease and 49% less likely to die from chronic liver disease.

The study was published online ahead of print on June 22, 2021 in the journal BMC Public Health.