Coffee lowers risk of developing liver cancer

Coffee, which has already been associated with lowered incidents of gout and diabetes, has now been linked with yet another health benefit, lowered liver cancer risk. According to findings published in the medical journal Gastroenterology and reported by Reuters:

[R]esearchers therefore conducted a large review, or "meta-analysis," of published epidemiological studies to look at the association between coffee consumption and the risk of liver cancer. The meta-analysis included 11 studies involving 2,260 liver cancer patients and 239,146 individuals without liver cancer who served as a comparison group.

An inverse association between coffee consumption and liver cancer risk was observed in all of the studies, and this association was statistically significant in six studies.

For every 2 cups of coffee per day, the investigators observed a 43-percent reduced risk of liver cancer.

"Coffee contains large amounts of antioxidants, such as chlorogenic acids," which combat oxidative stress and inhibit the formation of carcinogens. Furthermore, experimental animal studies have specifically shown that coffee and chlorogenic acids have an inhibitory effect on liver cancer.

This news means a lot to the people at the LifeTwo offices judging by the amount of coffee consumed. That said, a few months ago I starting switching out my afternoon coffee break (a latte) for a tea with soy milk. After a small transition period I now prefer the afternoon tea over the coffee, which is good because tea has been reported to be good for my weight, skin, and bladder.

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