Coffee lovers rejoice! Even decaffeinated coffee could be good for the liver.
New research suggests higher coffee intake, regardless of caffeine content, was linked to lower levels of abnormal liver enzymes, Wiley reported. The findings suggest there are other liver-benefiting chemical compounds in coffee other than caffeine.
Coffee consumption in the U.S. has been increasing by one percent every year since the 1980s; half of Americans over the age of 18 drink an average of about three cups per day. Coffee consumption has been proven to reduce the risk of diseases such as "diabetes, cardiovascular disease, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, cirrhosis, and liver cancer," Wiley reported.
"Prior research found that drinking coffee may have a possible protective effect on the liver. However, the evidence is not clear if that benefit may extend to decaffeinated coffee," said lead researcher Dr. Qian Xiao from the National Cancer Institute in Bethesda, Maryland.
To make their findings, researchers looked at data from the U.S. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. The study included 27,793 participants 20 years of age or older who provided information on their daily coffee intake. The participants underwent blood tests that looked at levels of aminotransferase (ALT), aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and gamma glutamyl transaminase (GGT) to determine liver health.
The team found those who drank three or more cups of coffee a day had significantly lower levels of ALT, AST, ALP and GGT compared with those who did not drink any coffee. These levels were also lower in participants who exclusively drank decaffeinated coffee.
"Our findings link total and decaffeinated coffee intake to lower liver enzyme levels. These data suggest that ingredients in coffee, other than caffeine, may promote liver health. Further studies are needed to identify these components," Dr. Xiao said.
The findings were published in a recent edition of the journal Hepatology.
