Drink coffee , save liver, save life: Study

A cup of coffee is generally considered across the world as an energiser. Coffee is also a great source of bioactive compounds beneficial to human health, researchers who study the therapeutic value of it say. A report published in Medical News Today also said that it could save people from the risk of death due to liver damage. The report said drinking coffee can reduce the increasing ALT level in blood , which is caused by malfunctioning of liver.

ALT-Alanine aminotransferase, commonly known as ALT, is an enzyme inside body which helps it to function properly. ALT stores the nutrients, produces the bile and filters toxins from the blood. But whenever liver is not functioning properly , ALT would increase its level in the blood and that is dangerous.

Recurring elevated level of ALT in blood may be the symptom of liver disease.

Hence, whenever liver damage is suspected in a patient, doctors suggest testing the ALT level in the blood , if found it in an increased level, they prescribe medicines to maintain the proper functioning of liver.

Liver diseases largely occur due to the overconsumption of alcohol, hepatitis c and b and effect of certain drugs and supplements like Acetaminophen, Methotrexate, excess iron or Vitamin C etc.

Despite many reports which suggest the importance of coffee in maintaining liver health, many have doubt about this matter due to lack of convincing evidence. But the new study by the US researchers confirms that coffee can reduce the elevated ALT level in blood and can help reduce the damage of liver.

There have been many studies over the years which endorsed this matter and a special attention was given to more studies, which compared coffee drinkers and non coffee drinkers in treating liver diseases. An estimated 2, 00,000 people from California and Hawaii who were first categorised as those who drink coffee regularly and non coffee drinkers. The result was amazing. After the study, it was found that people who had taken 2-3 cups of coffee per day had 38 % lower risk of hepatocellular caricinoma, a type of liver cancer and 46 % of people who had chronic liver diseases had 46% lower risk of death compared to non coffee drinkers.

Moreover, people who drank 4 or more cups of coffee a day had 41% lower risk of liver cancer and 71% of them had very low risk of dying due to chronic liver diseases.

However, researchers have not succeeded yet in distinguishing the content that contributes the medicinal properties of coffee but they have confirmed the fact that coffee could be extremely beneficial in treating liver disease given that chronic liver disease and cirrhosis result in about 35,000 deaths each year in the United States. Cirrhosis is the ninth leading cause of death in the United States.

Exercising regularly, losing excess weight, increasing folic acid intake, shifting dietary habit by increasing the intake of plant based diet, quitting smoking, reducing alcohol consumption, reducing cholesterol, and avoiding environmental toxins etc. would also help in relieving liver problems.