Large UK Biobank study links higher coffee intake to lower risks of cirrhosis, liver cancer and related death

A large prospective analysis of UK Biobank data has found that higher coffee consumption is associated with lower risks of developing cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma and dying from liver disease. Researchers from Cedars-Sinai Medical Center examined records from 354,957 adults who had no history of cirrhosis or liver cancer at baseline and followed them for a median of 13 years using linked medical records, according to the study published in Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology (cghjournal.org).

Compared with non-coffee drinkers, participants who consumed five or more cups per day had a 32% lower risk of cirrhosis (hazard ratio 0.68), a 47% lower risk of hepatocellular carcinoma (hazard ratio 0.53) and a 42% lower risk of liver-related mortality (hazard ratio 0.58), the Cedars-Sinai team reported (cedars-sinai.org). Graded associations were observed across intake levels. One to two cups daily was linked to roughly 20% lower cirrhosis risk, 24% lower liver-cancer risk and 31% lower odds of liver-related death, while three to four cups daily was associated with about 35% lower risks of cirrhosis and liver cancer and 41% lower risk of liver-related death, according to coverage of the findings (cnn.com).

The associations held for both caffeinated and decaffeinated coffee, suggesting caffeine is not the sole contributor. Protective links persisted among those who added sugar or artificial sweeteners, though additive use was tied to modestly higher markers of liver inflammation on imaging. In a subgroup of 28,961 participants who underwent magnetic resonance imaging, higher coffee intake corresponded to lower hepatic fat (proton density fat fraction), iron content and fibroinflammation (iron-corrected T1). Proteomic profiling of 44,633 participants revealed higher levels of proteins associated with healthy hepatocellular synthesis and complement function, alongside lower levels of markers linked to fibrosis and macrophage activation (cghjournal.org; sciencedaily.com).

“Previous studies suggested that coffee might benefit the liver, but most were smaller or looked at only one piece of the puzzle,” said corresponding author Hyunseok Kim, MD, MPH, PhD, 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.” Senior author Ju Dong Yang, MD, medical director of the Liver Cancer Program at Cedars-Sinai, stated: “Our findings support moderate coffee consumption for people who already enjoy and tolerate it well. 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” (cedars-sinai.org).

The study was observational and therefore cannot establish that coffee directly prevents these outcomes. Coffee intake was self-reported, primarily at baseline, and the cohort was predominantly of European ancestry. Researchers adjusted for demographic, behavioral, metabolic and genetic factors including the PNPLA3 genotype. Future work aims to identify specific compounds in coffee responsible for the observed associations with inflammation and scarring pathways. People with conditions requiring caffeine restriction, such as uncontrolled hypertension or certain arrhythmias, should consult a clinician before changing intake (sciencedaily.com).