Drinking Decaffeinated Coffee Could Boost Liver Health

Recent findings published in the journal Hepatology reveal that drinking decaffeinated coffee could protect your liver.

Researchers found that people who drank more coffee generally had lower levels of abnormal liver enzymes than those drank caffeinated products.

Furthermore, previous studies also found that coffee consumption significantly lowered the risk of developing diabetes, cardiovascular disease, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, cirrhosis, and liver cancer.

"Prior research found that drinking coffee may have a possible protective effect on the liver. However, the evidence is not clear if that benefit may extend to decaffeinated coffee," said lead study author Dr. Qian Xiao from the National Cancer Institute in Bethesda, Maryland, in a news release.

Researchers discovered that participants who reported drinking three or more cups of coffee a day generally had lower levels of harmful enzymes such as aminotransferase (ALT), aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and gamma glutamyl transaminase (GGT) in their livers. Researchers noted that the latest findings could also be applied to participants who drank only decaffeinated coffee.

"Our findings link total and decaffeinated coffee intake to lower liver enzyme levels. These data suggest that ingredients in coffee, other than caffeine, may promote liver health. Further studies are needed to identify these components," Xiao concluded.