Treat Your Liver To A Latte--or Even An Espresso
A daily stop at Starbuck's may be tough on your wallet, but it's probably good for your liver.

Researchers say they've studied the effects of coffee on liver health and wellness, and the news for coffee drinkers is good.

The study says coffee drinkers are 41 percent less likely to develop liver cancer.

An Italian research team did the study, which included populations in southern Europe and Japan.

It's not the first time there's been evidence that coffee might help prevent liver cancer. In February 2007, Japanese researchers tracked more than 90,000 older adults for 10 years. In their study, liver cancer rates fell by half in daily coffee drinkers. The Japanese research team was led by Monami Inoue of the National Cancer Center in Tokyo. Inoue and his colleagues analyzed a 10-year public health study in determining their results.

The American Cancer Society reports that about 19 thousand people in the United States are diagnosed with liver or bile duct cancer each year. About 15 thousand people die of liver cancer annually in the U.S.

In previous studies, there seemed to be evidence that caffeine has positive effects on liver enzymes.

The Japanese study showed that liver cancer risk was reduced among those who drank one to two cups of

coffee a day. The risk was reduced even more when coffee consumption increased at three to four cups.

Coffee has also been linked to a lower risk of cirrhosis, which can lead to liver cancer. Other conditions that may eventually cause liver cancer include hepatitis, excess consumption of alcohol, and diseases that result in liver inflammation.

Researchers also have not been able to determine a biological reason for a reduced risk. However,Inoue’s team noted that there are a lot of antioxidants in coffee, and those antioxidants might be a factor. They might, in effect, "perk up" helpful liver enzymes in the same manner that caffeine helps perk up people who drink coffee when they have a cup in the morning.

In their study, the Japanese team also looked at green tea, which many people drink because of it contains antioxidants. They couldn't find any link however, between drinking green tea and reduced liver cancer rates.

While these studies found a significant link between drinking coffee and having less liver cancer, the researchers say it could be a statistical anomaly and more studies need to be done. They agree that despite the promising results, there's no concrete evidence that drinking coffee prevents liver cancer.


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