An oft-asked question regarding coffee’s effects on liver health is “Is coffee healthy?” A study published in BMC Public Health shows that drinking moderate amounts, even decaffeinated coffee, can significantly lower risk for Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC). Researchers looked at data from over 2,000 people and discovered those who drank three to four cups a day had significantly lower ALT levels than their non-coffee drinking counterparts; in addition to having reduced levels of other markers related to liver disease such as AST, GGT and LDL, HDL, and TG markers (AST GGT).

Hepatitis C patients who drink multiple cups of coffee per day experience a slower progression of liver disease despite living with chronic viral infection that leads to hepatic fibrosis, according to research conducted. Researchers believe coffee may aid by improving the structure and function of hepatocytes while stopping leakage of ALT into serum, with its beneficial phenols and polyphenols responsible for this effect rather than simply being due to caffeine content alone.

Coffee consumption may help decrease HCC patients’ risk of death from advanced liver disease and cirrhosis, possibly by decreasing oxidative stress which contributes to damage on hepatocellular structures that eventually leads to cancerous transformation of cells and tumour growth.

However, this study should be seen with caution and take its limitations into account. For example, its participants self-reported their results rather than participating in a controlled clinical trial and how much and how filtered coffee they consumed had an impactful influence on results – but overall this research found filtered to be more beneficial than instant.

The authors of the study were pleased with their findings and hope it will pave the way for randomized clinical trials testing various coffee molecules against liver disease. They predict that those who drink three to four cups per day, either instant or filtered coffee, will find maximum benefit. They were also curious as to the influence different types of beans could have on outcomes.

Maintaining a healthy liver requires living an overall lifestyle which includes following a low-fat diet, limited alcohol consumption and regular physical activity. People suffering from existing liver conditions should consult a healthcare professional at a renowned hospital who can assess their situation and advise them accordingly on lifestyle habits that could benefit or harm.

Moderate coffee consumption can reduce your risk of liver diseases and delay their progress, but this does not negate other unhealthy lifestyle habits that could put strain on the liver, such as being overweight or obese, drinking excessive alcohol and not exercising regularly enough. To ensure optimal liver health it’s best to follow a diet rich in fruits and vegetables while aiming for an ideal body mass index (BMI) index so as to either prevent liver diseases altogether or delay their severity if already suffering from one.