A MAJOR new review has pulled together data from more than 270 studies and concludes that moderate coffee drinking is consistently linked with a lower risk of cancers of the digestive system, with the strongest and most reliable signal seen for liver cancer.
Researchers examined cohort, case–control and mechanistic studies on coffee and cancers of the liver, bowel, stomach, oesophagus, pancreas, gallbladder and oral cavity. Across multiple large population cohorts, people who drank coffee regularly had a substantially lower risk of hepatocellular carcinoma and other primary liver tumours compared with non-drinkers, even after accounting for smoking, alcohol, body weight and diabetes.
Dose–response analyses suggest that each additional daily cup of coffee is associated with a further reduction in liver cancer risk, with several meta-analyses reporting relative risk reductions in the range of 15–40% for moderate intake. Similar patterns have been seen in UK, European and Asian cohorts, and for different coffee types, including filtered and instant.
Coffee Components Shed Light on Liver Cancer Protection
The review highlights several coffee components that may help explain these findings. Caffeine, chlorogenic acid and diterpenoids have been shown in experimental models to reduce oxidative stress, limit inflammatory signalling, support detoxification of carcinogens and trigger apoptosis in liver tumour cells. Coffee also appears to modulate the tumour immune microenvironment.
However, the authors stress that not all evidence is consistent. Study results vary by roasting and preparation methods, background diet, smoking and alcohol use, genetic susceptibility, and the amount and pattern of coffee intake. High consumption, heavily sweetened drinks and certain preparation styles may carry separate cardiometabolic risks, and excessive intake is not recommended.
Implications for Clinical Practice
Yet coffee is not a substitute for evidence-based screening or treatment, and current data are observational. The authors call for better characterisation of coffee types, more rigorous adjustment for lifestyle confounders, and prospective mechanistic work to clarify causality.
For now, clinicians may reasonably reassure most patients that moderate coffee intake is unlikely to harm the liver and may confer some protection, while emphasising that overall lifestyle and underlying liver disease remain the dominant determinants of risk.
Reference
Zhang Y et al. Coffee consumption and risk of digestive system cancers: a comprehensive review of epidemiology, mechanisms, and clinical implications. Cancer Treat Rev. 2025;126:103123.
