Office Workers Can't Put It Down, but Doctors Warn: "Quit Now"... The Drink Linked to Fatty Liver

Sugar-Sweetened Beverages Raise Fatty Liver Risk by 1.39 Times

Coffee Itself Lowers the Risk of Liver Disease

Intake Should Be Managed with Unsweetened Coffee

A warning has emerged that consuming iced coffee as a daily habit can place a burden on liver health. However, it is not the cold coffee itself that warrants caution, but rather the added sugars found in syrups, creamers, and whipped cream. Studies show that even for people who do not drink alcohol, repeatedly consuming beverages high in sugar content can increase the risk of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Experts advise that instead of quitting coffee altogether, it is necessary to change consumption habits by reducing the intake of sugars and calories.

Coffee stock photo. Getty Images Bank

Is Iced Coffee the Problem? The Key Issue is 'Added Sugar'

Brian T. Lee, a liver transplant specialist at Hoag Hospital in the United States, and James Park, a liver specialist at Northwell Transplant Institute, have recently warned about the impact of added sugars on the liver, recommending a reduction in the consumption of iced coffee with syrup and creamer, as well as soft drinks. The two specialists explained that the way added sugars are metabolized in the liver is similar to alcohol, meaning that excessive intake can lead to fat accumulation and inflammation.

Dr. Lee described iced coffee as "essentially a dessert with added caffeine." He pointed out that adding syrup, creamer, or whipped cream to coffee significantly increases the sugar content and calories, reaching amounts similar to or even exceeding those in soft drinks. According to him, the issue is not the temperature of the coffee, but what additives are mixed in; continuously consuming coffee high in sugar can negatively affect overall metabolic health.

In particular, added sugars such as high fructose corn syrup can be converted into fat in the body and accumulate in the liver. Fructose is metabolized directly by the liver, so excessive consumption can impose a burden. If sugar intake continues to rise, it can cause greater fluctuations in blood sugar, disrupt insulin function, lead to decreased pancreatic beta-cell performance, trigger inflammatory responses, and ultimately increase the synthesis of new fats in the liver and the accumulation of visceral fat.

There is research that supports these concerns. A meta-analysis published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health examined the link between sugar-sweetened beverages and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease among 35,705 participants across 12 studies. The results showed that those who consumed sugar-sweetened beverages had a 1.39 times higher risk of developing non-alcoholic fatty liver disease compared to non-consumers. The difference according to consumption volume was also clear: consuming less than one drink per week increased the risk by 14%, one to six drinks per week by 26%, and seven or more drinks per week by 53%.

Fat Accumulating in the Liver Can Lead to Inflammation and Fibrosis

If too much fat builds up in the liver, it doesn’t just end with fat accumulation. With repeated inflammation and liver damage, tissue becomes damaged and fibrotic scarring can develop, which in severe cases may progress to cirrhosis of the liver.

Dr. Park also pointed out that if fat is deposited in the liver, inflammation and damage occur, which can eventually lead to the formation of scar tissue and progress to cirrhosis. Ultimately, the real issue is not one particular beverage itself, but rather the habitual and routine consumption of sugar-laden drinks.

Coffee Itself May Actually Benefit Liver Health

That said, there is no need to consider coffee alone as a threat to liver health. In fact, recent large-scale studies have shown that unsweetened coffee is positively associated with liver health. Researchers at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in the United States analyzed coffee consumption and liver health among 354,957 adults registered in the UK Biobank.

Coffee stock photo. Pixabay

After tracking participants without cirrhosis or liver cancer over a median of 13 years, they found that groups who drank five or more cups of coffee a day had a 32% lower risk of cirrhosis, a 47% lower risk of liver cancer, and a 42% lower risk of death related to liver disease compared to non-coffee drinkers. Even among those who drank just one or two cups per day, a risk reduction was observed, and the effect was most pronounced among those drinking three to four cups daily.

The researchers suggested that chlorogenic acids, polyphenols, and diterpenes in coffee might be responsible for its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. MRI analyses confirmed a tendency for those who drank more coffee to have lower indicators of liver fat, iron, fibrosis, and inflammation. A similar association was found in both caffeinated and decaffeinated coffee, indicating that ingredients other than caffeine might also play a role.

"Smaller, Less Sweet" ... Change Your Coffee Habit First

Experts recommend not giving up coffee entirely, but instead reducing sugar and calories when enjoying it. Dr. Lee advises that a small cup of coffee with a little milk is healthier than a large, sugar-laden beverage. If sweetened coffee is necessary, a more realistic alternative is to cut down on the frequency or amount of syrup added to manage overall sugar intake.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.