LIVER CANCER
Data on potentially beneficial effects of coffee on liver function and liver diseases have accrued over the last two decades. Since 2007, all published data in this area indicate that coffee consumption can protects against liver cancer. A meta analysis of cohort and casecontrol studies by Larsson and Wolk [22] reported an inverse association between coffee consumption and liver cancer among individuals with and without a history of liver disease. Their conclusion was also
confirmed by a meta-analysis of cohort studies by Yu et al., who suggested a significant inverse relation between coffee intake and hepatocellular cancer [52]. Two independent meta-analyses were published in 2013. One of them stated the risk of liver cancer for high coffee drinkers was 50% lower than for no/almost never drinkers both, in European and in Asian studies [37]. The second reported that the risk of hepatocellular carcinoma for coffee consumption vs. no consumption was lower by 40% [5]. On the basis of epidemiological evidence it seems safe to conclude that coffee drinking not only does not increase the risk of liver cancer but may in fact protect from it. According to some experts, moderate daily intake of unsweetened coffee is a responsible addition to the main therapy for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease patients.