US Edition
Fatty Liver Disease Risk Linked to Both Sugary and Diet Drinks
A study of 123,788 UK Biobank participants found sugary drinks raise fatty liver risk by 50% and artificially sweetened drinks by 60%, with water lowering risk.
- On Oct. 7, 2025, researchers reported both sugary and artificially sweetened drinks were linked to higher MASLD risk using nearly 124,000 UK Biobank participants.
- MASLD, a widespread disease, involves fat buildup in the liver and affects more than 30% of people worldwide, with sugary beverages linked to blood sugar spikes, weight gain, and uric acid increases, while artificially sweetened beverages may alter the gut microbiome and insulin, Lihe Liu said.
- During a median 10-year follow-up, nearly 1,200 participants developed MASLD and 108 died from liver-related causes.
- Replacing sugary beverages with water reduced risk by nearly 13%, while drinking water instead of artificially sweetened drinks lowered fatty liver disease risk by more than 15%. Researchers advised limiting both drink types and said water remains the best choice.
- Findings presented at medical meetings remain preliminary until peer review, and the study team plans long-term clinical trials to explore why artificially sweetened drinks increase liver-related mortality.
16 Articles
16 Articles
Drinking Diet Soda May Raise Your Liver Disease Risk by Up to 60%, New Study Says
Here's what to know.Reviewed by Dietitian Annie Nguyen, M.A., RDDesign elements: Getty Images. EatingWell design.Key PointsDrinking more than one soda daily may increase liver disease risk by 50–60%.Replacing soda with water could reduce liver disease risk by up to 15%.Both sugary and diet sodas were linked to higher liver fat and liver-related deaths.Many people reach for a diet soda as a healthier choice, especially when compared to a regular,…
Diet and sugary drinks raise risk of fatty liver disease, study shows
Diet drinks are often seen as a healthier choice than sugary drinks, but a new study suggests that may not be true. Both regular and artificially sweetened drinks could raise your risk for fatty liver disease.This study is quite interesting. Artificially sweetened drinks actually fared worse than regular sugary drinks.Now, researchers looked at data from nearly 124,000 adults in the United Kingdom. Heres what they found: drinking more than 330 g…
The Independent
The Independent (US)Liver warning issued over ‘diet’ drinks
New research finds both sugary and artificially sweetened beverages have significant impact on liver health
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