The positive reasons for drinking coffee do not stop growing . If we already knew that it was a good ally against diabetes, Parkinson’s or cancer, now a new study from the National Cancer Institute in Bethesda (USA) reveals that it is also beneficial for the liver. The work has been published in the journal Hepatology .
For their study, the researchers used data from the United States National Health and Nutrition Survey (NHANES, 1999-2010), selecting a total of 27,793 participants over the age of 20 . The volunteers took a questionnaire about their daily coffee drinking habits and the scientists measured their blood levels with different markers of liver function in order to determine the health of the participants’ liver. Among the markers selected were: aminotransferase (ALT), aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and gamma glutamyl transaminase (GGT).
Analysis of the data showed that participants who drank three or more cups of coffee a day (including decaf coffee) had lower levels of all markers of liver function , compared to those who never drank coffee.
“The findings link the consumption of coffee, decaffeinated or not, with a reduction in liver enzyme levels. In other words, the data suggests that the ingredients in coffee, other than caffeine, can promote liver health , “says Qian Xiao, leader of the study.
Thus, regardless of its caffeine content, one of the most consumed beverages in the world appears as a new protector of our body, since it is other chemical compounds in coffee and not caffeine, which protect our liver.
