A new study states that people at high risk for liver injury may be able to reduce their risk for developing chronic liver disease significantly by drinking more than two cups of coffee or tea daily.
This study is relevant in people who have liver problem due to heavy alcohol intake, being overweight or having diabetes or iron overload.In the words of the researchers, Constance E. Ruhl, MD, PhD and James E. Everhart, MD, MPH "While it is too soon to encourage patients to increase their coffee and tea intake, the findings of our study potentially offer people at high-risk for developing chronic liver disease a practical way to decrease that risk, In addition, we hope the findings will offer guidance to researchers who are studying liver disease progression.'
The study population included 9,849 participants whose coffee and tea intake was evaluated and who were followed for a median of 19 years. In this analysis, coffee and tea intake was measured in cups, ranging from 0 to 16 cups per day with a median of two cups per day. Findings showed that those who consumed more than two cups of coffee or tea per day developed chronic liver disease at half the rate of those who drank less than one cup each day.
In the analysis, we determined that caffeine was partly responsible for the protective effect found. We believe that investigations into the mechanism of action of caffeine for protecting the liver and its clinical application are needed,' said Dr. Ruhl.
This study is very relevant in diet and disease context.
