Is coffee good for your liver?

In this article:

• Is coffee good for your liver?
• Coffee and liver health
• Considerations
• Contraindications
• Other lifestyle habits for liver health
• The bottom line

In this article

• Is coffee good for your liver?
• Coffee and liver health
• Considerations
• Contraindications
• Other lifestyle habits for liver health
• The bottom line

Located in the upper right side of your abdomen next to the stomach, the liver is part of the digestive tract. This organ has hundreds of functions, but in many ways, the liver acts as a processing plant. It processes nutrients, filters blood, produces bile, and performs many other vital functions.

Certain beverages, such as alcohol, make the liver work extra hard. When you drink alcohol, the liver has to break it down and remove the toxic byproducts that are created in the process. But what about drinking coffee? Unlike alcohol, coffee is considered largely beneficial for the liver. Here’s a closer look at the link between coffee and liver health.

Is coffee good for your liver?

“Coffee is generally protective of liver health,” says Supriya Rao, MD, a healthcare provider who is quadruple board-certified in internal medicine, gastroenterology, obesity medicine, and lifestyle medicine. 

Coffee’s benefits come from more than just caffeine. It contains antioxidants and other compounds that help protect liver cells from damage caused by oxidative stress. These antioxidants counteract free radicals, unstable molecules that contribute to inflammation and the development of liver conditions. Coffee also contains alkaloids, compounds which give coffee its stimulant effect while offering additional protective properties.

Research consistently shows that regular coffee consumption is correlated with better liver outcomes. It may slow the progression of existing liver disease and is linked to lower risks of fibrosis, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the most common form of liver cancer. Overall, coffee appears to support liver health and may even have preventive effects. 

How coffee can be a liver’s ally

If you drink several cups of coffee per day, you may be reaping more benefits than a boost of energy from the caffeine. Here’s how routine and consistent coffee consumption may provide liver health benefits.

Reduce the risk of liver disease

“Fatty liver disease is one of the most common liver problems I see,” Dr. Rao says. Also known as steatosis or steatotic liver disease (SLD), it results from the accumulation of fat in the liver. In some cases, liver disease is related to heavy alcohol consumption. However, metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), which was once called nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), is the most common type, affecting up to 30% of adults.

“Research shows that regular coffee intake actually lowers rates of fatty liver disease,” Dr. Rao says. For example, a meta-analysis concluded that regular coffee consumption is significantly associated with a reduced risk of MASLD.

Protect against liver fibrosis

Coffee drinkers may also have a lower risk of liver fibrosis, Dr. Rao says. Fibrosis refers to hardened or scarred tissue that results from excess fibrous connective tissue. It can occur all throughout the body, but liver fibrosis is serious as it can impair the liver’s ability to filter toxins from the body, and it can advance to liver damage.

Coffee drinking can protect the liver from fibrosis, according to a systematic review. How so? While researchers say it’s not fully clear, it could have something to do with certain bioactive compounds in coffee, says Jenna Volpe, RDN, gut health dietitian and founder of Whole-istic Living in Austin, Texas. “Polyphenols like chlorogenic acids and diterpenes such as cafestol and kahweol have been shown to have protective effects against oxidative stress, inflammation, and fibrosis in the liver,” Volpe explains, pointing to recent literature.

Decrease the risk of cirrhosis

Cirrhosis of the liver affects about one in 400 adults. Like fibrosis, cirrhosis occurs when there’s scarring on the liver. However, it’s much more advanced and considered a later stage of chronic liver disease. After years of liver injury and liver damage, cirrhosis may occur, and it ultimately can’t be reversed. It is common for liver damage to go unnoticed until cirrhosis occurs. Cirrhosis may present when the patient looks jaundiced (yellow eyes or yellowing of the skin) or has ascites (fluid in the belly that may look like a pregnant woman at 9 months). 

Fortunately, there’s some good news. The liver-related benefits of coffee may also apply to individuals with cirrhosis. While it’s not reversible, there’s some evidence to suggest that coffee drinkers have a reduced risk of developing cirrhosis (and fibrosis) compared to non-coffee drinkers. 

Reduce the risk of liver cancer

Coffee drinking could lower the risk of liver cancer, Dr. Rao says. Liver cancer is common and generally has a high mortality rate. It’s the sixth most common cancer and the third leading cause of cancer death, per the National Cancer Institute. There are many risk factors for liver disease, including hepatitis infections, heavy alcohol consumption, and cirrhosis. Chronic hepatitis B infections, a common cause of hepatocellular carcinoma, have decreased in younger populations due to the administration of hepatitis B vaccines in childhood starting in 1991. 

However, the research on regular coffee intake and liver cancer prevention is promising. For example, there’s evidence that consuming an additional two cups of coffee per day reduces the risk of HCC by 35%. Just one cup of coffee per day can reduce the risk of HCC by 15%.

Cancer risk is complex, so this isn’t to say that coffee drinkers won’t get liver cancer. The research simply points to further liver-protective effects of coffee.

Nuances and considerations

Most research suggests that benefits occur at 2 to 3 cups per day, although optimal amounts vary by individual tolerance. The U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) typically recommends an upper limit of 400 milligrams (mg) of caffeine per day, from all sources, including coffee, tea, and chocolate. Although it can vary, a cup of coffee generally contains 96 mg of caffeine per cup, while decaffeinated coffee (also known as decaf) contains just 1 mg. For reference, green tea and black tea contain 29 mg and 48 mg of caffeine, respectively.

Because caffeine may play a role in coffee’s protective effects, much of the existing research focuses on regular (caffeinated) coffee. Still, some early animal studies have found that decaf coffee also offers liver-protective properties, though to a lesser degree.

Just watch out for additives in cafe-style drinks, such as syrups and whipped cream, Dr. Rao warns. The added sugars can negate the metabolic benefits of a cuppa joe. Additionally, some coffee shops serve brews with higher amounts of caffeine than advertised, which could exceed the recommended upper limit. “My advice is to make your coffee at home so you know exactly what’s in it,” Dr. Rao says. When in doubt, consult a healthcare professional for tailored advice.

Potential downsides and who should be wary

While there’s research to support the numerous liver-related benefits of coffee, it may not be suitable for everyone. If you have the following conditions, you should use more caution:

• Insomnia: Those who struggle with insomnia may also be sensitive to the caffeine in coffee, Volpe says. Restricting your coffee intake to the early morning hours and changing to decaf in the afternoon may help, she adds.
• Anxiety: Feeling jittery is a possible effect of coffee consumption. “The caffeine in coffee can exacerbate symptoms of anxiety,” Volpe says. If it affects you this way, stick to decaf or reduce your regular coffee intake to decrease your total caffeine.
• Gallstones: While coffee is thought to help prevent gallstones, it’s not recommended once they’ve formed, Volpe says. 
• Advanced liver disease: Those with extremely advanced liver disease may also become sensitive to coffee, Dr. Rao adds.

Coffee typically has more upsides than downsides, but any time you’re uncertain, it’s a good idea to consult your healthcare team.

Other lifestyle habits for liver health 

The link between coffee and liver health is pretty clear: It’s a tool that can help ward off some serious liver diseases and complications. However, drinking coffee is just one tool that should be in your arsenal. Research in hepatology, the branch of medicine that focuses on the liver, recommends the following lifestyle habits for overall liver health:

• Limit alcohol consumption. Excess alcohol consumption (this is considered two servings/day in men or one serving/day in women) is associated with a variety of liver diseases and problems. Research shows that lowering your alcohol intake can reduce the risk of severe liver disease and liver cancer.
• Follow a healthy diet. The liver is part of the digestive system, so it shouldn’t come as a surprise that your food choices matter. A Mediterranean-style diet has been shown to improve fatty liver disease.
• Increase physical activity. Obesity is a major risk factor for MASLD. Together with a balanced diet, regular exercise can help maintain a healthy body weight.
• Get vaccinated for hepatitis B. Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection can contribute to liver cirrhosis and HCC. HBV vaccines reduce the rate of viral hepatitis B transmission as well as offer significant protection against liver cancer. If you were born in 1991 or later, you may have already received the three-shot series of hepatitis B.

The bottom line

So, is coffee good for your liver? Overall, research strongly suggests it is. Coffee contains caffeine, antioxidants, and other compounds that may help protect liver cells and lower the risk of conditions such as fibrosis and cirrhosis.

For the greatest benefit, prepare your coffee at home whenever possible and minimize the addition of sugars, syrups, and flavored creams, which can diminish its metabolic advantages.

Coffee is generally safe for most adults, but individual tolerance varies. If you have underlying health conditions or concerns, consult with your healthcare provider to determine the best course of action for you.