Can Drinking Coffee Protect the Liver from Alcohol Damage?

For some, coffee is a way of life. For others, it’s an occasional luxury that’s indulged in one or twice a week. Now, new research suggests that a caffeine fix could be the key to unlocking a host of medical benefits, including powerful anti-cancer and aphrodisiac properties, as well as the ability to protect the liver from alcohol damage.

Published in the journal Alimentary Pharmacology and Therapeutics, the latest study suggests that two cups of Joe a day could significantly minimise the risk of developing alcohol-related cirrhosis. Statistically speaking, scientists maintain that the possibility of alcohol related liver damage could drop by 43%.  

Is coffee the key to preventing cirrhosis?

While cirrhosis can be triggered by a variety of factors, chronic alcohol abuse is a major cause. The term refers to the overproduction of fibrous connective tissue, which leaves the liver scarred and unable to function. In 2010, over 1 million people died following cirrhosis diagnosis. In a medical revelation, scientists are now suggesting that coffee derived caffeine could be a formidable weapon when it comes to protecting the liver from scarring.  

Statistics that buzz

They drew on data from nine pre-existing studies into the relationship between coffee and cirrhosis. While the team isn’t sure how coffee works to prevent cirrhosis, they found a strong negative correlation between cases of cirrhosis and coffee consumption. When analysing results, it appeared that a single cup reduced the risk by 22%, a double cup corresponded to a 43% drop, a triple hit by 57% and four cups by 65%. Scientists suspect that this ‘healing’ power could be due to its notable antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, both of which actively protect against liver fibrosis.

Delving deeper into the benefits of a good brew

The data is encouraging, but the scientists admit there’s still a lot of groundwork to be done before coffee can be hailed as a genuine preventative method. They’re unsure whether ground, instant, boiled and filtered coffee create the same effects, and are also on the fence regarding a myriad of other factors and variables.

Should coffee become a legitimate medical treatment, it will be subject to ruthless quality control standards. Already, everything that hits consumer shelves is regulated by global paradigms, as explored in ‘Raising and Harmonizing Standards in International Food Integrity.’ Since 2013, the Fera International Food Safety Training Laboratory (IFSTL) has been expediting advocating for the exchange of knowledge and best practice in analytical techniques. The article looks at the group’s recent collaboration with analytical equipment manufacturer Waters®, and how the partnership is helping to improve EU food import compliance standards across the continent.