A “modest intake” of fizzy drinks is linked to a 60% higher risk of liver disease, new evidence has indicated.
Researchers from China have found that just one can of Diet Coke or Sprite Zero Sugar per day can trigger the development of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD).
Otherwise known as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, MASLD is a long-lasting liver condition caused by having too much fat in the liver.
It is closely linked with being overweight as well as conditions such as type 2 diabetes and heart and circulatory disease.
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In the trial, the team of researchers looked at the dietary patterns of more than 123,000 British adults, all of whom had no previous history of liver disease.
Participants who consumed sugar-sweetened drinks like Coca-Cola each day were 50% more at risk of developing MASLD, the results have revealed.
This risk increased to 60% among the participants who drank low or non-sugar-sweetened drinks such as Diet Coke or Sprite Zero Sugar each day, according to the study.
Senior author Lihe Liu said: “Sugar sweetened beverages have long been under scrutiny, while their ‘diet’ alternatives are often seen as the healthier choice.
“Both, however, are widely consumed and their effects on liver health have not been well understood.”
Lihe Liu added: “Our study shows that low or non-sugar-sweetened drinks were actually linked to a higher risk of MASLD, even at modest intake levels such as a single can per day.
“These findings challenge the common perception that these drinks are harmless and highlight the need to reconsider their role in diet and liver health, especially as MASLD emerges as a global health concern. The safest approach is to limit both sugar-sweetened and artificially sweetened drinks.”
Lihe Liu continued: “Water remains the best choice as it removes the metabolic burden and prevents fat accumulation in the liver, whilst hydrating the body.”
During the study, all of the 123,788 adults completed surveys to outline their daily food and drink intake.
A total of 1,178 of the participants were diagnosed with MASLD and 108 of these died from liver-related causes, the findings have reported.
Regularly choosing to drink water over sugar sweetened or low or non-sugar-sweetened beverages lowered the risk of MASLD by 12.8% and 15.2% respectively, the study has shown.
According to the authors, sugar sweetened drinks impact blood glucose levels and low or non-sugar sweetened drinks can influence the gut microbiome.
Lihe Liu stated: “The higher sugar content in sugar sweetened beverages can cause rapid spikes in blood glucose and insulin, promote weight gain and increase uric acid levels, all of which contribute to liver fat accumulation.
“Low or non-sugar sweetened beverages, on the other hand, may affect liver health by altering the gut microbiome, disrupting the feeling of fullness, driving sweet cravings and even stimulating insulin secretion.”
One in five people in the UK are living with MASLD, but 80% of those are thought to be undiagnosed, the British Liver Trust has reported.
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The condition often has no obvious symptoms and is often detected during routine blood tests or liver function tests carried out for different reasons.
Professor Philip Newsome, Director of the Roger Williams Institute of Liver Studies at King’s College London, said: “People who develop MASLD are often overweight or have [type 2] diabetes.
“We’re seeing an increase in liver disease in the UK, and the challenge is that symptoms are often unnoticeable until it’s too late.”
He concluded: “It’s a common and dangerous misconception that only alcohol can cause liver scarring, as excess fat and uncontrolled blood sugar levels can lead to the same outcome.”
