I you love coffee, we have good news. A study has found that drinking more coffee may offer some form of protection against non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), while adding the beverage to the diet of NAFLD sufferers could help reverse the medical condition.
Conducted by a team lead by Vincenzo Lembo the University of Napoli, the Italian study analyzed three groups of mice for 12 weeks. The first group was given a standard diet, the second had a diet high in fats, and the third received a high fat diet that also included a decaffeinated coffee solution.
Lembo and his team concluded that a daily dose of coffee, which is equivalent to six espresso cups for a 70 kg person, improved several key markers of NAFLD in mice fed a high fat diet. Moreover, those mice exhibited lesser weight gain compared to their caffeine-free counterparts.
Experts believe that the risk of NAFLD and liver injury is positively correlated with a highly permeable gut, which if left untreated, can result in liver scarring and even a life-threatening condition called cirrhosis.
Fortunately, the researchers successfully demonstrated that coffee raises the levels of Zonulin, a protein that lessens the permeability of the intestines.
Considering that coffee is one of the most widely consumed beverage in the world for both its flavor and aroma and mild mood-boosting and stimulating effects, this discovery is sure to be a boon for coffee lovers.
The highly popular drink is also known for a host of health benefits, most notable of which is its ability to reduce the risk of getting type 2 diabetes, Parkinson’s disease, dementia, heart disease, and symptomatic gallstone disease.
Will you be drinking more coffee now that you know it protects against non-alcoholic fatty liver disease?
