Disorders of other intestinal organs

Gallbladder

Two major prospective cohort studies consistently show an inverse association between coffee consumption and the risk of symptomatic gallstones^9,10. Other studies suggest that the effect of coffee may vary depending on the progression of the gallbladder disease¹¹.

Coffee and caffeine appear to trigger the contraction of the gallbladder and may prevent small crystals becoming large gallstones early in the disease³³. However, if large gallstones are already present, such contraction of the gallbladder may cause pain. There is some evidence to suggest that coffee exerts its effect through caffeine, but further studies are required to confirm this hypothesis ^9-11,33.

Further detailed information is available in the gallstones section of the coffee and health website here.

Liver

Studies looking at the relationship between coffee consumption and risk of liver cancer suggest an inverse association.

• A 2023 systematic review concluded that a higher coffee intake may be associated with a lower risk of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) – the most common type of primary liver cancer¹². These findings agree with an earlier systematic review and meta-analysis which concluded that higher doses of coffee have higher benefits in terms of risk reduction, although further studies are required to determine the exactmechanism¹³‍
• In its 2016 review, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) concluded there is a consistent and statistically significant inverse association between coffee consumption and liver cancer¹⁵‍
• Further epidemiological studies in patients with other liver diseases have all found a positive effect of moderate coffee drinking on limiting disease progression³⁴

Further detailed information is available in the liver section here.

Pancreas

The IARC concluded that coffee consumption is not linked to a higher risk of pancreatic cancer¹⁵.

• The World Cancer Research Fund International also reviewed over 50 studies and found no increase in risk of developing pancreatic cancer with coffee consumption³⁵

• Further studies have also confirmed the absence of a relationship, and some studies suggest that regular coffee drinking is associated with a lower risk of pancreatic cancer^36-39

Further detailed information is available in the cancer section here.

Oesophagus

In 2016, the IARC classified beverages consumed at very high temperatures, defined as drinks over 65°C, as 'probably carcinogenic to the human oesophagus'¹⁵. It is the temperature, rather than the drinks themselves, that appears to be responsible. 65°C is significantly hotter than the temperature at which most people can comfortably drink coffee without scalding their mouth and tongue; coffee is typically drunk at temperatures below 60°C^15,40.

When the IARC assessed evidence for a link between oesophageal cancer and coffee specifically, it found insufficient evidence of an association¹⁵.