Drinking coffee can protect the body from serious liver disease, writes The Guardian, citing the work of scientists from the University of Southampton and the Royal Medical Research Institute in Edinburgh.

A group of researchers studied the liver condition of 494,585 patients for almost 11 years. As a result, they registered more than 3,600 cases of chronic liver diseases, as well as 301 deaths.

The analysis showed that after taking into account body mass index, alcohol consumption and smoking status, those who drank any amount of coffee had a 20% lower risk of developing chronic or fatty liver disease. The risk of death from such diseases among coffee drinkers was 49% lower.

"A large sample in the UK has shown that drinking coffee protects against severe liver disease," said Professor Paul Roderick, one of the authors of the study.
At the same time, scientists note that one cannot get rid of liver diseases only with the help of a drink. Experts advise reducing alcohol consumption and maintaining a healthy weight through proper nutrition and exercise.

Chronic liver disease (CKD) is a major public health problem worldwide. From 1990 to 2017, deaths from CLD increased from 899,000 (1.9%) to 1.32 million (2.4%). Most often the disease occurs in low- and middle-income countries: in Africa south of the Sahara, Central and South America, Eastern Europe and Southeast Asia.