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Scientists at the National Cancer Institute say people who drink coffee every day are doing well by their livers, improving the organ’s function and potentially staving off disease.
The scientists used data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, which included 27,793 adult participants. The participants reported how much coffee they drank and whether it had caffeine.
The researchers also measured blood levels of liver enzymes, which can help determine how well the liver is functioning.
Elevated liver enzymes can be an indicator of liver disease.
The researchers found that people who drank three or more cups of coffee per day had significantly lower levels of the enzymes in their blood than those who drank no coffee.
The association was similar among participants who drank decaf coffee.
The participants who drank three or more cups of coffee per day — decaf or caffeinated — had healthier liver function than those who drank no coffee. The caffeine appeared to have no effect on liver health.
“In summary, our findings suggest that coffee consumption may be associated with favorable liver health,” the authors concluded.
The Intramural Research Program of the National Institutes of Health, the National Cancer Institute and the Department of Health and Human Services funded the study. The authors declared no conflicts of interest.
Agencies/Canadajournal
