Coffee consumption may be linked to a reduced risk of liver cancer, according to a study by Italian researchers, who found that people who drink coffee are 41% less likely to develop the disease compared to those who do not. The findings, published in the August issue of Hepatology, were corroborated by earlier research from Japan’s National Cancer Centre, which tracked over 90,000 older adults for a decade and observed a 50% reduction in liver cancer rates among daily coffee drinkers. The Italian team, led by Dr. Francesca Bravi, reviewed 10 studies and noted that compounds in coffee may inhibit cancer-related enzymes, while caffeine appears to positively affect liver function. However, Dr. Alfred I. Neugut of Columbia University cautioned that the association does not prove causation, emphasizing the need for biological evidence to confirm the findings. The study’s authors acknowledged the inverse relationship between coffee drinking and liver cancer but stressed that the implications for public health remain unclear.
The research highlights coffee’s potential protective role, though experts urge caution