A large new study suggests that people who drink coffee regularly may have a lower risk of developing serious liver disease, including cirrhosis and liver cancer, although researchers caution that the findings do not prove coffee is the direct cause of those benefits.
The research, led by investigators at Cedars-Sinai and published in the journal Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology, analyzed health data from nearly 355,000 adults enrolled in the U.K. Biobank. Participants had no history of cirrhosis or liver cancer at the start of the study and were followed for a median of 13 years.
Researchers found that participants who drank five or more cups of coffee daily had a 32% lower risk of developing cirrhosis, a 47% lower risk of liver cancer, and a 42% lower risk of dying from liver-related causes compared with people who did not drink coffee.
Study Finds Benefits at Moderate Consumption
Although the greatest reductions were observed among people drinking five or more cups per day, researchers said the protective association appeared even at one to two cups daily and seemed strongest around three to four cups per day.
Investigators emphasized they are not recommending that people increase their coffee intake to five or more cups based solely on the findings.
“Our findings support moderate coffee consumption for people who already enjoy and tolerate it well,” Dr. Ju Dong Yang, senior author of the study and medical director of the Liver Cancer Program at Cedars-Sinai, said in a news release.
“However, we would not recommend that someone begin drinking coffee solely for liver protection based on this study alone. Prevention should continue to focus on maintaining a healthy weight, limiting alcohol, exercising regularly, and managing blood sugar, blood pressure and cholesterol.”
Researchers Examined Biological Markers
In addition to tracking health outcomes, researchers analyzed liver MRI scans and blood protein profiles to better understand why coffee may be linked to improved liver health.
Coffee drinkers were found to have lower levels of liver fat, inflammation, and fibrosis-related markers, along with healthier liver protein profiles.
“Previous studies suggested that coffee might benefit the liver, but most were smaller or looked at only one piece of the puzzle,” said Dr. Hyunseok Kim, the study’s corresponding author and an assistant professor of medicine at Cedars-Sinai.
“We followed hundreds of thousands of people for more than a decade and looked at their health outcomes along with liver MRI scans and blood protein analyses. Together, those findings help explain the biological mechanisms behind coffee’s association with better liver health.”
Researchers also found similar associations among people who drank caffeinated and decaffeinated coffee, suggesting that compounds other than caffeine may contribute to the potential liver benefits.
Coffee Is Not a Substitute for Healthy Habits
The study authors stressed that the research was observational and cannot establish a cause-and-effect relationship.
Dr. Kim said coffee contains hundreds of bioactive compounds, including chlorogenic acids, polyphenols, and diterpenes, that may help reduce oxidative stress, inflammation, and liver scarring while supporting metabolic health.
Nutrition experts say coffee may be one component of a liver-friendly lifestyle, but it should not replace proven preventive measures.
Those include maintaining a healthy weight, exercising regularly, limiting alcohol consumption, managing diabetes and insulin resistance, preventing chronic hepatitis infections, and following a Mediterranean-style diet rich in vegetables, whole grains, legumes, fruits, nuts, olive oil, and fish.
Researchers said future studies will focus on identifying which specific compounds in coffee may provide liver-protective effects and whether certain individuals could benefit more than others.
The authors also advised that people with uncontrolled high blood pressure, certain heart rhythm disorders, severe anxiety, insomnia, or other conditions requiring limited caffeine intake should consult a healthcare provider before increasing their coffee consumption.
