Coffee Lowers Cholesterol and Reduces Risk of Liver Disease, Study Shows

15 Apr 2016 --- Drinking a high volume of coffee each day could prevent non fatty liver disease – even among the obese, according to new Italian research.

A new study suggests that drinking six cups of coffee day can reduce the risk of severe liver disease.

This new information could be seriously helpful when it comes to combatting non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) – which is on the rise thanks to the world’s growing obesity crisis.

Sedentary lifestyles and unhealthy diets mean that an estimated one in five people in the UK are now in the early stages of the disease, which can eventually lead to life-threatening cirrhosis, a condition more commonly associated with alcoholism.

Researchers found that mice with fed a high-fat diet had fewer signs of the disease if they were fed a daily dosage of coffee – equivalent to six cups of espresso for a human of 11 stone (70kg).

The mice consuming coffee also gained less weight than others fed the same diet.

Scientists from the University of Napoli, who presented their findings at the International Liver Congress in Barcelona, think that coffee improves the structure of the intestine.

They revealed that coffee consumption increases levels of Zonulin – a protein which lessens the permeability of the gut. This improves the intestine’s ability to filter out any harmful substances, which would otherwise pass into the blood stream and eventually to the liver, where they could do damage.

While the experts stopped short of recommending that people should drink more coffee, they did add that doctors could eventually harness the power of coffee and transform it into a dedicated medical treatment.

Study author Vincenzo Lembo said: “Previous studies have confirmed how coffee can reverse the damage of NAFLD but this is the first to demonstrate that it can influence the permeability of the intestine.”

“The results also show that coffee can reverse NAFLD-related problems such as ballooning degeneration, a form of liver cell degeneration.”

The team also found that coffee may improve structure of the intestinal tight junctions, which regulate the permeability of the intestine.

Professor Laurent Castera, secretary general of the European Association for the Study of the Liver, said: “Italy is famous for its coffee and this Italian study has reinforced our knowledge on the link between it and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.”

“Although not suggesting that we should consume greater levels of coffee, the study offers insights that can help future research into and understanding of the therapeutic role coffee can play in combating NAFLD.”

Previous studies have suggested that drinking coffee may impact health in numerous different ways, including reducing the risk of multiple sclerosis, heart disease, Parkinson’s disease and type-two diabetes.

But the European Food Safety Agency (EFSA) advises that people drink no more than 400mg of caffeine a day – which is equivalent to five espressos.

It warns that exceeding this limit increases the risk of anxiety, sleeplessness and can even cause trouble with heart rhythm.