A new review of existing studies reveals that drinking more coffee might possibly reduce liver cirrhosis, according to a report in the Huffington Post. The disease is linked to overindulging in food and alcohol. Scientists analyzed data from nine previous studies including more than 430,000 participants and discovered that drinking two additional cups of coffee a day lowered the risk by 44 percent.
“Cirrhosis is potentially fatal and there is no cure as such,” said lead study author Dr. Oliver Kennedy of Southampton University in the U.K. “Therefore, it is significant that the risk of developing cirrhosis may be reduced by consumption of coffee, a cheap, ubiquitous and well-tolerated beverage,” Kennedy added by email.
Liver cirrhosis is the hardening and degeneration of liver tissue killing over one million people every year worldwide. Hepatitis infections, excessive alcohol consumption, immune deficiencies, and fatty liver disease tied to obesity and diabetes are known to cause the disease.
Kennedy and a consortium of scientists reviewed the earlier surveys of average coffee consumption to see if adding two more cups of coffee altered the odds of liver disease. Combined, studies comprised of 1,990 patients with cirrhosis. Eight of the nine studies reviewed indicated that two more cups significantly reduced liver disease; in the other survey, the risk dropped as more coffee was consumed. With no coffee consumption, scientists estimated one cup a day was tied to 22 percent lower risk and two cups, the risk fell by 43 percent, while it further declined to 57 percent after three cups leading to 65 percent with four.
But patients shouldn’t imbibe coffee laden drinks, either; in other words, everything in moderation. Also not certain is exactly how the coffee might lead to a healthier liver or if certain types of beans or brewing methods influence the findings.