A breakfast staple costing less than 10p per serving could help prevent deadly liver disease, new research suggests. The study, led by hepatologist Hyun-Seok Kim MD at Cedars-Sinai in Los Angeles, analyzed long-term data from the UK Biobank and found that coffee consumption is associated with a reduced risk of cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and liver-related death.
Study Design and Participants
The research included 354,957 participants who were free of cirrhosis, HCC, and viral hepatitis at baseline. A subcohort of 28,961 patients underwent MRI, and around 50,000 received proteomic analysis. Participants were tracked over a median of 13 years, with coffee intake self-reported and categorized by number of cups (none, 1–2, 3–4, or ≥5 daily), caffeine level, and sweetener use.
94% of participants were white, with an equal gender balance and a mean age of 57. 80% drank at least one cup of coffee per day, with 64% consuming caffeinated coffee. 3% to 4% routinely used sweeteners.
Key Findings
Presenting at the 2025 Liver Meeting in Washington, Dr. Kim reported: “2,970 incidents of cirrhosis, 342 incidents of HCC, and 852 liver-related deaths at 13 years’ median follow-up.” Compared with non-coffee drinkers, coffee drinkers showed a stepwise reduction in risk, with no significant difference between caffeinated and decaffeinated coffee. The protective association was also observed among those who added sweetener, though it was slightly reduced in participants with diabetes, suggesting that diabetic dysfunction may temper the protective pathway.
Additional Health Markers
Among the MRI and proteomic subcohorts, coffee consumption was linked to lower levels of liver fat, liver iron, and fibroinflammation. Dr. Kim noted: “In short, coffee is a very accessible and low-cost intervention that may complement metabolic disease prevention.”
Cost and Caveats
A 100g jar of Nescafe Original Instant Coffee, which contains 55 servings, retails at Asda for £3.72—approximately 7p per cup. However, Dr. Therese Bittermann, adjunct associate professor of medicine at the University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, cautioned that the study population had lower use of artificial sweeteners and excessive alcohol than the general UK population, so the benefits may partly reflect other healthy behaviors. She emphasized following professional medical advice and a balanced diet for liver health.
