One or Two Cups of Coffee a Day May Lower the Risk of Cirrhosis and Liver Cancer

[Financial News] A study has drawn attention from coffee lovers by suggesting that a daily cup of coffee, often consumed without much thought, could be a strong ally in protecting liver health.
According to a large-scale clinical study published in The Korean Journal of Gastroenterology in July, a 13-year follow-up of 354,000 adults registered in the UK Biobank found that the incidence of severe liver diseases such as cirrhosis and liver cancer was significantly lower in the group that regularly drank coffee than in the control group.
The preventive effect was especially pronounced among people who drank five or more cups a day. More recent reports also suggest that even those who drink just one or two cups a day have a significantly lower risk of developing cirrhosis or liver cancer.
■ Independent of caffeine or sugar content.. focus on coffee's antioxidant compounds
What is interesting is that this liver-protective effect was observed consistently regardless of whether the coffee contained caffeine, whether sugar was added, or whether the person regularly drank alcohol or smoked.
This suggests that the liver-suppressing effect does not come from caffeine itself, but from other active compounds in coffee beans. Experts believe that the antioxidants and anti-inflammatory substances in coffee may suppress liver fibrosis, in which tissue hardens, as well as the progression of disease.
Kim Ik-mo, head of the Department of Hepatology at Ulju Hospital in Ulju County, Ulsan, and a former professor of internal medicine at Kosin University Gospel Hospital, said on the 28th, "This study is significant because it used large-scale data to show that coffee can meaningfully help ease liver fibrosis and the progression of severe liver disease."
■ Not a treatment, but potentially helpful for lifestyle changes in MAFLD and other conditions
Kim also cautioned that these findings should not be mistaken to mean coffee is a treatment for liver disease. A clear causal link between coffee and a reduction in severe liver disease, as well as the exact mechanism, still requires further study.
Kim Ik-mo of Ulju Hospital advised, "Coffee itself cannot replace treatment for liver disease, but unless there are specific medical contraindications such as gastrointestinal disorders or severe insomnia, it may play a useful supporting role in the diet therapy of liver disease patients and in lifestyle correction for patients with metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD), which has been increasing recently."
[email protected] Byun Ok-hwan Reporter