Kitchen staple costing 7p that slashes chances of deadly liver disease

A breakfast staple that costs less than 10p per serving could help prevent deadly liver disease, a study has found. New research appears to support belief among experts that coffee has hepatoprotective properties (i.e. the ability to prevent damage to the liver).

The study was led by Hyun-Seok Kim MD, a hepatologist at Los Angeles healthcare institution Cedars-Sinai, and examined data from the UK Biobank over the long term. The research, presented late last year, included 354,957 participants who didn't suffer from cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), or viral hepatitis when they entered the pool of subjects. Additionally, a subcohort of 28,961 patients had undergone MRI and around 50,000 had received proteomic analysis as part of the wider biobank project. These individuals were then tracked over a median of 13 years to get a more developed sense of the impact of coffee on liver health over time by looking at their health outcomes alongside self-reported coffee intake.

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The study group's coffee consumption was identified by the number of cups they had (none, one to two, three to four, or at least five daily), caffeine level (caffeinated or decaffeinated), as well as whether they used sugar or other sweeteners, Gastroenterology & Endoscopy News reports.

94% of the patients whose data was analysed were white, and comprised an equal balance of male and female participants, with a mean age of 57.

80% of them had at least one cup of coffee per day, with 64% of them drinking caffeinated coffee. Meanwhile, 3% to 4% routinely used sweeteners.

Presenting findings late at the 2025 Liver Meeting in Washington, a gathering of the world's top hepatologists, Dr Kim said there were “2,970 incidents of cirrhosis, 342 incidents of HCC, and 852 liver-related deaths at 13 years’ median follow-up”.

“Compared with non-coffee drinkers, [coffee drinkers had] a stepwise reduction in the risk of liver outcomes, with no significant difference between caffeinated and decaffeinated."

Stepwise refers to the incrementally lower level of risk tied to the number of coffees consumed, i.e. a dose-determined effect.

He added that the statistical link between drinking coffee and a reduction in the risk of disease was also observed among those adding sweetener.

However, the academic pointed out that the association was slightly reduced among those with diabetes. He said this suggests that diabetic dysfunction may temper the protective pathway coffee appears to offer.

Researchers also identified that among the cohort that had had underwent MRI or proteomic analysis, coffee consumption was also linked to lower levels of: liver fat (which can heighten health risks at high levels); iron in the liver (which can be toxic at elevated levels); and fibroinflammation (inflammation and scarring that can affect the liver).

“In short, coffee is a very accessible and low-cost intervention that may complement metabolic disease prevention,” Dr. Kim said.

Commenting on the research, Dr Therese Bittermannan, adjunct associate professor of medicine at the University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, noted the importance of establishing how the research subjects differ from the public at large.

“For example, the use of artificial sweeteners and excessive alcohol were lower than we’d expect in the general UK population,” she told the outlet.

Dr Bittermann said it's a relevant consideration as the potential benefits coffee brings may be connected to other behaviors that promote good health.

Though some people go for high end coarsely ground coffee in a cafetiere, the cost of a cup of instant at home is considerably cheaper.

For example, a 100g jar of Nescafe Original Instant Coffee contains 55 servings and retails at Asda for £3.72. That works out to approximately 7p per cup.

However, whatever coffee's potential health benefits may be, it's important to follow professional medical advice about liver health, including following a varied and balanced diet.