Recent research indicates that switching from regular soda to diet versions might not be as beneficial for liver health as many believed. A review of data from the UK Biobank revealed that both sugary beverages and those containing artificial sweeteners—despite being sugar-free—are linked to a greater risk of liver disease.
This study was shared at the European Union Gastroenterology Week in Berlin, Germany. It monitored over 120,000 adults who didn’t have liver disease at the beginning of the study, following their beverage consumption and liver health over a span of ten years.
Participants who frequently consumed sugar-sweetened beverages (like soda, sweet tea, and energy drinks) faced about a 50% higher risk of developing serious liver conditions, such as metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (often referred to as non-alcohol-induced fatty liver disease).
“While sugary drinks have drawn significant attention, many assume that alternatives are safer,” noted Lihe Liu, a graduate student in the gastroenterology department at the First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University in China.
Interestingly, those who opted for diet drinks (essentially low- or no-sugar beverages) displayed an even greater risk—around 60%. So, it seems that shifting from regular soda to diet options might not only fail to protect the liver, but it could worsen the situation.
In fact, research found that if people replaced sugary sodas and diet sodas with water, their risk of liver disease could decrease by up to 15%. Yet merely swapping between those two sugary drinks didn’t yield similar benefits.
The analysis also indicated that regularly consuming artificially sweetened drinks raised the likelihood of dying from liver-related causes. Liu added, “Our findings show that even consuming just one can daily links LNSSB to a higher risk of MASLD.” This study challenges the widely held belief that these drinks are perfectly harmless and calls for a reevaluation of their place in diets for better liver health.
Researchers speculate that the harmfulness of zero-sugar drinks may stem from their effects on the body, such as altering gut bacteria, intensifying sweet cravings, and disrupting hunger and fullness signals in the brain. Some studies suggest that even artificial sweeteners might trigger insulin responses, usually attributed to sugar.
Liu advised that limiting both sugar-rich and artificially sweetened beverages seems to be the safest approach. The data shows that water is the best option, hydrating while alleviating metabolic burdens and preventing fat buildup in the liver.
Liver disease is a growing health concern globally, affecting about 4.5 million adults in the U.S., according to CDC statistics.
While the full study hasn’t been published in a peer-reviewed journal yet, meaning some limitations remain unclear, experts highlighted that self-reported beverage intake could introduce errors. Observational studies may reveal associations but don’t definitively prove causation. Fox News Digital has reached out for comments from the American Beverage Association and researchers involved.
