Coffee may cut liver cancer risk

August 8, 2007 in Cancer Prevention, Healthy Eating, Nutrition Topics in the News

Coffee may cut liver cancer risk

Heavy coffee drinking may cut your risk of liver cancer in half. A new study found that drinking three of more cups of coffee a day was associated with 55 per cent lower risk of liver cancer. Drinking less than three cups of coffee a day was associated with a 30 per cent lower risk.

In an analysis of 2, 260 cases of liver cancer, researchers from Japan showed that an increase of just one cup of coffee every day was associated with a 23 per cent decrease in liver cancer risk.

Previous studies have linked coffee to reduced risk of diabetes and colon cancer.

The mechanism by which coffee prevents cancer is still unknown. However, scientists suggest that coffee may act as a blocking agent by reacting with enzymes involved in cancerous growth.  Caffeine may also have beneficial effects on liver enzymes.

Health Canada recommends an intake no more than 450 milligrams of caffeine per day for healthy adults. One cup (8 ounces) of brewed coffee contains 100 to 135 milligrams of caffeine.

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