Further research backs the theory that drinking coffee could decrease the risk of liver cancer, writes Dominique Patton. Japanese researchers pooled data from two cohort studies that showed self-reported frequency of coffee consumption among more than 60,000 people. After adjustment for potential confounders, they found that those who drink coffee occasionally reduced their risk by almost 30 per cent, while those drinking one or more cups a day had a risk of just 0.58 compared with the non-drinkers. Although case-control studies suggest that coffee consumption is associated with a decreased risk of liver cancer, no prospective cohort study has been carried out, they noted in the 10 August issue of the International Journal of Cancer (vol 116, issue 1 , pp 150 - 154).
