Diet and Sugary Drinks Linked to Liver Disease
New research finds that drinking just one can of diet soda a day may increase the risk of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) by up to 60%, while sugary beverages raise the risk by 50%. NAFLD, also known as metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), occurs when fat builds up in the liver of people who consume little to no alcohol. Over time, it can lead to cirrhosis or liver cancer, making it a leading cause of liver-related illness worldwide.
The study was presented at the United European Gastroenterology Week in Berlin and emphasizes the surprising impact of both diet and sugar-sweetened beverages on liver health.
How the Study Was Conducted
Researchers analyzed data from nearly 124,000 participants in the UK Biobank, all without liver disease at the start of the study. Beverage consumption was tracked through 24-hour dietary questionnaires over a 10-year period. The findings revealed that both diet and sugary drinks were strongly linked to increased MASLD risk, while substituting water for either type of drink reduced risk by 13–15%.
Interestingly, switching from sugary drinks to diet drinks—or vice versa—did not lower the risk, highlighting that water remains the healthiest default beverage.
Understanding the Health Risks
Sugary drinks affect the liver by causing rapid spikes in blood glucose and insulin, promoting weight gain and fat accumulation in the liver. Diet drinks, though low in calories, may still harm liver health by altering the gut microbiome, increasing cravings for sweet foods, interfering with satiety, and stimulating insulin secretion.
“Water hydrates the body without impacting metabolism, supports satiety, and helps protect the liver,” said lead study author Lihe Liu of Soochow University in China.
Expert Perspectives
Dr. Sajid Jalil, a gastroenterology expert at Stanford University, praised the study’s design. “This prospective research, with a large sample size and long follow-up, provides strong evidence that both regular and diet soft drinks can harm the liver over time. Choosing water or unsweetened beverages offers clear protective benefits,” he said.
Liu emphasized that these findings challenge the common perception that diet drinks are harmless and highlight the need to reconsider their role in daily diets, particularly as MASLD becomes a global health concern.
Practical Takeaways
Drinking one can of diet soda per day may increase liver disease risk by 60%.
Sugary drinks raise NAFLD risk by 50%.
Substituting water for sweetened beverages reduces risk by 13–15%.
Switching between diet and sugary drinks does not reduce risk.
Water remains the safest, most effective beverage for liver health.
As MASLD rates continue to rise globally, experts recommend prioritizing water and unsweetened beverages over both sugary and diet drinks for long-term liver health.
Stay tuned to Maple Wire for the latest health research and nutrition updates.
