If you enjoy drinking coffee, your daily habit may offer more than just a mental boost—it could also help protect you from a potentially life-threatening disease.
A new medical study has found that coffee consumption is associated with a lower risk of developing serious liver diseases.
The research, published in the journal Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology, found that people who drink coffee every day have a reduced risk of severe liver conditions, including liver cancer and death caused by liver disease.
The study analyzed data from more than 350,000 participants aged between 40 and 69, who were enrolled between 2006 and 2010. At the beginning of the study, none of the participants had liver disease or liver cancer, and researchers collected detailed information about their coffee-drinking habits.
The participants were then followed for 13 years, during which researchers monitored cases of liver disease, liver cancer, and liver-related deaths.
The findings showed that people who drank five or more cups of coffee per day had significantly better liver health. Their risk of developing liver fibrosis—a condition in which liver tissue becomes scarred and stiff—was 32% lower.
In addition, their risk of liver cancer was reduced by 47%, while the risk of dying from liver disease fell by 42%.
Researchers also found that drinking one to four cups of coffee per day provided some protection against liver disease, although the benefits were greater among those who consumed more coffee.
According to the study, higher coffee intake was linked to lower levels of liver fat, reduced iron accumulation in the liver, and decreased inflammation.
The researchers noted that all types of coffee appeared to provide liver health benefits. They explained that coffee contains compounds that help reduce oxidative stress and chronic inflammation—two major factors that contribute to liver damage.
While the findings are encouraging, the researchers emphasized that coffee should complement, not replace, other healthy lifestyle habits such as maintaining a balanced diet, limiting alcohol consumption, and exercising regularly.