Science

Coffee reduces harm from alcohol

Drinking coffee may reduce the risk of cancer in heavy drinkers, research has found. A new study shows the hot drink can protect against liver cancer, which is often associated with alcohol abuse.

For each cup consumed a day, there is about a 14 per cent decreased risk of liver cancer, found the study by the World Cancer Research Fund. 

But although the research found strong evidence that drinking coffee can reduce the risk of the disease, the report did not recommend the amount that should be drunk.

The popular drink has already been linked with reducing the chances of getting bowel cancer, stroke and Alzheimer's disease. However, drinking too much may increase heart rate and blood pressure and pregnant women are advised to limit their intake because of concerns that excess coffee may increase their chances of having small babies.

The World Cancer Research Fund (WCRF) report warned that while coffee might protect against the effects of alcohol abuse, just three alcoholic drinks a day can be enough to cause liver cancer. As a result three or more drinks pose a significant cancer risk. In all, 34 studies were analysed covering 8.2million people of whom more than 24,500 had liver cancer. Previous research by the project has shown alcohol to be strongly linked with a range of cancers, including liver.