At least 50 percent of U.S. adults drink coffee, with the average being three cups per day, according to the journal "Alimentary Pharmacology & Therapeutics." Coffee has been studied for both its possible negative and positive effects on a variety of health conditions, with research results strongly mixed. One area of investigation that does show promise is the potential coffee has in helping promote a healthy liver and prevent and treat liver disease.
Cancer
Researchers at the National Cancer Center in Japan conducted a large-scale study of over 330 adults with newly diagnosed cases of liver cancer. The results, published in February 2005 in the "Journal of the National Cancer Institute," found that the subjects who consumed coffee on a daily or almost daily basis had a lower risk of the most common type of liver cancer, hepatocellular carcinoma, than those who almost never drank coffee.
Cirrhosis
Cirrhosis is a scarring of your liver with poor liver function as a result of chronic liver disease, often caused by alcoholism. Findings published in 2006 in the "Archives of Internal Medicine" showed that the risk of alcoholic cirrhosis was significantly lower in coffee drinkers who consumed up to four cups per day than in non-coffee drinkers.
Hepatitis
Hepatitis is an inflammation of your liver typically caused by a virus or drug use that can be acute or chronic. The 766 participants in a multi-institution study, called the Hepatitis C Antiviral Long-Term Treatment against Cirrhosis trial, were assessed for the amount of coffee and tea they consumed. The subjects who regularly consumed three cups of coffee a day or more had lower rates of disease progression than those who didn't drink coffee. The study, published in November 2009 in the journal "Hepatology," also observed that tea didn't have the same effects as coffee.
Liver Fibrosis
Liver fibrosis is the excessive accumulation of proteins that occurs in most types of chronic liver diseases, leading to scarring. A study published in the January 2010 issue of "Hepatology" demonstrated that patients with chronic hepatitis C who consumed more at least 2.25 cups of regular caffeinated coffee daily had milder liver fibrosis. For each 67 mg increase in caffeine consumption, or about one half cup of coffee, there was a 14 percent decrease in the odds of advanced fibrosis.
Considerations
High consumption of unfiltered coffee may cause moderate increases in cholesterol levels. If you have a genetic mutation that slows the breakdown of caffeine in the body, consuming two or more cups of coffee per day may increase your risk of heart disease. High caffeine levels, or the amount in four or more cups of coffee per day, can lead to restlessness, anxiety, irritability and sleeplessness.
References
- "Archives of Internal Medicine"; Coffee, Cirrhosis, and Transaminase Enzymes; A.L. Klatsky, et al.; June 2006
- "Journal of the National Cancer Institute"; Influence of Coffee Drinking on Subsequent Risk of Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A Prospective Study in Japan; M. Inoue, et al.; February 2005
- "Hepatology"; Increased Caffeine Consumption is Associated with Reduced Hepatic Fibrosis; Apurva A. Modi, et al.; January 2010
- "Alimentary Pharmacology & Therapeutics"; Review Article: Possible Beneficial Effects of Coffee on Liver Disease and Function; I.S.H. Cadden, et al.; March 2007
- MayoClinic.com: What does the research say about coffee and health? Is coffee good or bad for me?; Donald Hensrud, M.D.; May 2010
- "Hepatology"; Coffee Intake is Associated with Lower Rates of Liver Disease Progression in Chronic Hepatitis C; N.D. Freedman, et al.; November 2009
