Coffee Consumption Linked to Unexpected Health Perks

WHO:

CNN - Dr. Hyunseok Kim, a transplant hepatologist at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, is the first study author.

CNN - Lauren Manaker, a registered dietitian nutritionist who was not involved in the study.

WHAT:

CNN - A study found that daily coffee consumption may lower the risk for liver disease or liver cancer.

CNN - The study involved more than 354,000 participants followed for more than a decade.

CNN - One to two cups of coffee daily were associated with a 20% lower risk of cirrhosis, a 24% lower risk of liver cancer, and a 31% lower odds of liver-related death.

CNN - Three to four cups daily were linked with a 35% lower risk of cirrhosis and liver cancer, and a 41% lower chance of liver-related death.

CNN - Five cups or more were correlated with a 32% lower risk of cirrhosis, a 47% decrease in risk for liver cancer, and a 42% lower odds for liver-related death.

CNN - Cirrhosis affects more than 58 million people worldwide and kills nearly 1.5 million people yearly.

CNN - Hepatocellular carcinoma, the most common liver cancer, has nearly 685,000 cases and more than 597,000 deaths globally every year.

WHERE:

CNN - The study was conducted at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles.

WHEN:

CNN - The study was published in the journal Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology on a Wednesday.

WHY:

CNN - The liver benefits from coffee are likely not due to caffeine, as similar benefits were observed in decaffeinated drinkers, suggesting an anti-oxidative effect of coffee.

HOW:

CNN - The researchers used advanced MRI imaging and other analyses to show that coffee drinkers had healthier liver protein profiles and less liver fat and inflammation.

(UPDATED July 2, 2026 13:42 UTC)

A new study led by Dr. Hyunseok Kim at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles suggests that daily coffee consumption may significantly lower the risk of liver disease and liver cancer. Involving over 354,000 participants followed for more than a decade, the research found that drinking one to two cups of coffee daily was associated with a 20% lower risk of cirrhosis and a 24% lower risk of liver cancer, while those consuming three to four cups saw even greater benefits. The study indicates that the liver's positive response to coffee is likely due to an anti-oxidative effect rather than caffeine alone, as similar benefits were noted among decaffeinated coffee drinkers.