Study of 354,000 People Finds Five Cups of Coffee Daily Cuts Liver Cancer Risk by 47 Percent
A major study published in Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology found that drinking five or more cups of coffee daily is linked to a 47 percent lower risk of liver cancer and a 32 percent lower risk of cirrhosis. Researchers tracked more than 354,000 participants over 13 years.
Drinking five or more cups of coffee a day is linked to a 47 percent lower risk of liver cancer and a 32 percent lower risk of cirrhosis, according to a large study published in Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology.
Researchers at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center tracked 354,957 participants from the UK Biobank over a median of 13 years. The study also found that heavy coffee drinkers had a 42 percent lower risk of dying from liver disease compared to non-coffee drinkers.
Even modest consumption showed benefits. People who drank one to two cups daily had a 20 percent lower risk of cirrhosis and a 31 percent lower risk of liver-related death.
The protective effects appear to come from antioxidant compounds in coffee rather than caffeine. Decaffeinated coffee produced similar results to caffeinated varieties. Researchers identified polyphenols and chlorogenic acid as likely drivers, noting that these compounds activate antioxidant response pathways and reduce inflammation.
MRI scans of nearly 29,000 participants showed that regular coffee drinkers had lower levels of liver fat, iron, and fibroinflammation. A separate protein analysis of more than 44,000 participants identified 74 proteins linked to both coffee intake and reduced cirrhosis risk.
Researchers cautioned that the study is observational and does not prove that coffee directly prevents liver disease. The study population was predominantly of European ancestry, which may limit how broadly the findings apply.
Adding sugar or artificial sweeteners to coffee was associated with slightly less favorable liver inflammation markers compared to drinking coffee black. Experts said coffee should be viewed as one part of a healthy lifestyle, not a replacement for maintaining a healthy weight, exercising, and limiting alcohol.
