Can more than 2 cups of coffee a day prevent people dying of liver disease?

Deaths from liver disease represent 2 deaths in 100 people. Liver cancer (caused by liver disease) is the third most common cause of cancer deaths worldwide. Though the liver is able to regenerate and replace itself, it can become so damaged that the harm cannot be reversed. It plays a crucial role in our bodies, so it’s important to look after it.

It has been known for some time that drinking coffee appears to provide some protection against liver disease, but a recent study explored whether drinking cups of coffee could actually reduce liver disease deaths.

The study reviewed coffee consumption and rates of liver disease deaths in countries around the world. It discovered that in countries where more than 2 cups of coffee were consumed, the numbers of deaths from liver disease averted could possibly be 7.8 per 100,000 people, in one year.

Whilst this study compared worldwide datasets and showed fewer deaths with increased coffee consumption, it does not suggest what the ‘protective factor’ is in coffee, or how long someone needs to drink it for them to gain a benefit. Further research is needed to see if drinking more than two cups of coffee a day in the UK results in a true reduction in the number of people dying from liver disease.

This interesting study will pave the way for further exciting research, which will aim to identify the exact component of coffee that our livers love, hoping to improve the available treatments for liver disease.