Coffee is one of the most widely consumed beverages worldwide and has increasingly shown beneficial effects on liver health. Observational studies have linked regular coffee consumption with lower liver enzyme levels, including alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, and gamma-glutamyl transferase, particularly among individuals at increased risk of liver injury.1
Coffee contains several bioactive compounds, including polyphenols, chlorogenic acids, diterpenes, and caffeine. These compounds may influence oxidative stress, inflammation, insulin sensitivity, hepatic steatosis, and fibrogenesis. Nevertheless, coffee consumption has not been established as a direct treatment for liver disease, and much of the available evidence remains observational. 1
A prospective study published in Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology evaluated the relationship between coffee consumption and long-term liver outcomes using clinical records, magnetic resonance imaging, and proteomic biomarkers from the UK Biobank. The findings indicated that higher coffee consumption (≥5) cups were associated with lower risks of cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma, and liver-related mortality. These results provide additional clinical and biological support for a potential protective association between coffee consumption and chronic liver disease, while reinforcing the need for cautious interpretation because coffee should not be regarded as a substitute for established strategies to prevent or treat liver disease.2
References: 1. Wadhawan M, Anand AC. Coffee and liver disease. Journal of Clinical and Experimental Hepatology. 2016;6(1):40-46. doi:10.1016/j.jceh.2016.02.003 2. Kim HS, Rezaee-Zavareh MS, et al. Coffee Consumption and Improved Liver Outcomes: Clinical, Imaging, and Proteomic Evidence From the UK Biobank. Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2026 Jul 1:S1542-3565(26)00404-0. doi: 10.1016/j.cgh.2026.04.035. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 42385787.