Myth or Fact: Can Coffee Damage the Liver?

JAKARTA — Coffee is a favourite drink for many people because it can help maintain focus. But amid its popularity, some believe that drinking coffee regularly can burden or even damage the liver. Is this claim medically accurate?

Dr Widya Khairunnisa Sarkowi, a nutrition expert at IPB University, said that for most adults, moderate coffee consumption can be part of a healthy lifestyle. The belief that coffee damages the liver is not fully supported by the available scientific evidence, she said.

“One of the most common beliefs is that coffee can damage the liver. With moderate consumption, scientific evidence actually shows that coffee consumption is associated with a lower risk of liver fibrosis,” Widya said in a written statement, quoted on Thursday (8 October 2026).

Widya said several studies have found that people who regularly drink coffee tend to face a lower risk of liver fibrosis, or scarring, and cirrhosis. One study involving patients with fatty liver disease linked coffee consumption to an approximately 35 per cent lower risk of fibrosis.

“Research by Bravi et al also found that coffee consumption reduces the risk of liver disease, including liver cancer, although the existing findings still need to be confirmed in studies with larger numbers of participants,” Widya said.

Despite its potential benefits, coffee should not be consumed without limit. People still need to monitor their caffeine intake. Widya said healthy adults can generally tolerate up to around 300–400 milligrams of caffeine a day, equivalent to two or three cups of coffee.

“This is in line with guidance from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which says that caffeine consumption of up to around 400 milligrams a day generally does not cause negative effects for most healthy adults,” Widya said.