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Dr. Anurag Maheshwari of the Institute for Digestive Health and Liver Disease at Mercy.

Dr. Anurag Maheshwari Of The Institute For Digestive Health And Liver Disease At Mercy Discusses Study That Claims Coffee May Lower Liver Disease Risk

An estimated 4 million Americans have hepatitis C, and only a third to a half actually know they have it, which can be a problem since it can often lead to liver problems, doctors said.

Health officials said that for many people who are diagnosed with hepatitis C, it's found by accident.

Brenda Ross said she discovered she had elevated liver enzymes eight years ago and that it rapidly progressed from there.

"I was very, very sick. I had my gall bladder removed, but that didn't help. Things kept going from bad to worse," she said.

She said it got to the point where her liver failed and she ended up on the transplant list.

Hepatologist Dr. Anurag Maheshwari of the Institute for Digestive Health and Liver Disease at Mercy said Ross had non-alcoholic hepatitis C.

"We think of it as a disease related to obesity and diabetes as the primary problem, but they eventually develop cirrhosis," he said.

A new five-year study followed patients with significant liver disease and showed they did better if they drank coffee.

"They found people that drank three or more cups of coffee a day had a much lower risk of liver-related complications," Dr. Maheshwari said.

While it's too early to suggest that everyone with liver problems should drink coffee, Dr. Maheshwari said it's definitely encouraging.

"We now have about five years of literature to suggest that coffee is good for you," he added

Ross noted that after her liver transplant and even with other health problems, she is doing much better.

To view Dr. Maheshwari's interview on WBAL-TV11's "Woman's Doctor," click this link: http://www.wbaltv.com/womansdoctor/21762058/detail.html