Coffee consumption associated with reduced risk liver cancer

Liver cancer is the third largest cause of cancer deaths in the world (following lung and stomach cancer). That's why any time an article comes out about something that may reduce liver cancer we take note. When that 'something' is one of the world's most popular and readily available drinks, we do more than just notice it, we write about it. A new study (actually a meta-analysis or 'study of studies') by the Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri in Milan, Italy, confirmed that there is an inverse association between coffee consumption and the risk of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC or liver cancer).

The results showed a 41 percent reduction of HCC risk among coffee drinkers compared to those who never drank coffee. “Moreover, the apparent favorable effect of coffee drinking was found both in studies from southern Europe, where coffee is widely consumed, and from Japan, where coffee consumption is less frequent, and in subjects with chronic liver diseases,” the researchers state.

All of the normal qualifiers apply. There is a difference between 'association' and 'causation' and researchers cannot prove why coffee consumption is associated with lower HCC--though they have theories. More research is necessary and as with anything moderation is always a good idea.

The full article is Article:

“Coffee Drinking and Hepatocellular Carcinoma Risk: A Meta-Analysis,” Francesca Bravi, Cristina Bosetti, Alessandra Tavani, Vincenzo Bagnardi, Silvano Gallus, Eva Negri, Silvia Franceschi, Carlo La Vecchia, Hepatology; August 2007; (DOI: 10.1002/hep.21708).