No evidence to support claim that coffee can reverse alcohol-induced liver damage

By: Soham Shah
June 2 2023

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Context

A photo posted on Twitter claims that coffee has been found to reverse liver damage caused by alcohol consumption. However, there is no evidence to support this claim.

In Fact

The liver breaks down alcohol molecules, and over-consumption of alcohol can lead to liver damage. Fatty liver disease, liver hepatitis, and liver cirrhosis are some common alcohol-induced liver issues. Stopping alcohol consumption is the only way to prevent your liver from getting worse, according to an advisory from the National Health Service, U.K. 

"Liver damage due to alcohol can only be reversed or its progression prevented, only if you stop drinking alcohol," wrote Dr. Cyraic Abby Philips, Clinical and Translational Hepatologist at Rajagiri Hospital in Kerala, while debunking the claim on Twitter. He iterated that coffee does not reverse liver damage caused by alcohol. 

According to a 2017 study published in PubMed, a database of medical and scientific literature, cessation of drinking (i.e. abstinence) is an integral part of therapy. Liver transplantation remains the life-saving strategy for patients with end-stage alcoholic liver disease. 

Logically Facts reached out to Dr. Maulik Patel of Divine Life Hospital in Gujarat, who said, “Many recent studies have found that moderate coffee consumption is beneficial for various liver diseases. Epidemiological studies have shown that coffee consumption can slow the development of chronic liver disease, including cirrhosis caused by alcohol. But there is no evidence to show that it reverses alcohol-induced cirrhosis.”

Multiple studies suggest that coffee consumption helps in the prevention of liver diseases like cirrhosis, fibrosis, non-alcohol-related fatty liver disease, and even liver cancer. Coffee can also help in slowing down the progression of these diseases. 

A study in PubMed in the Journal of Clinical and Experimental Hepatology said, “Coffee consumption is associated with improvement in liver enzymes (ALT, AST, and GGTP), especially in individuals with risk for liver disease.”

Another study published on Springer Nature’s platform BMC provides evidence of the protective effect of all types of coffee against chronic liver disease (CLD) outcomes. The study also highlights that further research among a more diverse group of people is needed to investigate the efficacy of a coffee-based intervention in those at risk of CLD. 

Further, a meta-analysis of studies involving 4,32,133 participants published in Alimentary Pharmacology and Therapeutics showed that drinking two or more cups of coffee a day could significantly reduce the risk of liver cirrhosis.

The British Liver Trust in a report published in 2016 also confirmed that coffee is good for liver health.

The Verdict

While coffee can help in the prevention and slowing down of liver diseases, there is no evidence to show that it is capable of reversing alcohol-induced liver damage. Therefore, we have marked this claim misleading.