Another study, as reported by WebMD, suggests that coffee might actually be healthy for your liver, and that even decaffeinated coffee may have this effect.
Prior research had suggested that drinking coffee may help protect the organ, but the new study suggests caffeine might not be the active ingredient at work.
In this study, researchers led by Dr. Qian Xiao, of the U.S. National Cancer Institute, analyzed data from nearly 28,000 Americans, aged 20 and older, who provided information on their coffee consumption. They were also checked for blood levels of several enzymes associated with liver health.
The study was published online recently in the journal Hepatology.
People who drank three or more cups of coffee a day -- including those who drank only decaf coffee -- had lower levels of these enzymes, an indication of better liver health.
"Our findings link total and decaffeinated coffee intake to lower liver enzyme levels," Xiao said in a journal news release. "These data suggest that ingredients in coffee, other than caffeine, may promote liver health. Further studies are needed to identify these components."
The study only showed an association between coffee drinking and liver health, it could not prove cause-and-effect, reported WebMD.
