Coffee may be beneficial for the liver: studies

Three separate studies have been published in the first few months of 2016 examining different ways that regular coffee consumption may help the liver. One study, led by OJ Kennedy of Alimentary Pharmacology and Therapeutics, found that increasing coffee consumption may substantially reduce the risk of cirrhosis. The study was a systematic review, with meta-analysis of nine studies involving 1990 cases and 432,133 participants. Another systematic review with meta-analysis by H Shen and published in Therapeutic Advances in Gastroenterology Volume 9 assessed the association between caffeine consumption and prevalence or hepatic fibrosis of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in observational studies. The conclusion of Shen’s review suggests that regular caffeine consumption from coffee may significantly reduce hepatic fibrosis in patients with NAFLD. And finally, a study led K Friedrich and published in the Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology investigated coffee consumption as a therapeutic option to treat progression of end-stage liver disease or improve long-term survival after liver transplantation. Findings suggest coffee consumption protects against progression in liver cirrhosis and increases long-term survival after liver transplantation.
A systematic review with meta-analysis by H Shen et al assessed the association between caffeine consumption and prevalence or hepatic fibrosis of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in observational studies. The conclusion suggests that regular caffeine consumption from coffee may significantly reduce hepatic fibrosis in patients with NAFLD.