Sugary drinks and their diet counterparts increase the risk of fatty liver disease.
A new study presented at the UEG Week 2025 conference showed that both sugary drinks and their diet counterparts are associated with an increased risk of developing non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Researchers analyzed data from over 120,000 participants in the UK Biobank and found that daily consumption of more than 250 grams of such drinks increases the likelihood of the disease by 50-60 percent.
Moreover, artificially sweetened drinks were found to be no safer than regular ones — their consumption was associated not only with a greater fat load on the liver but also with increased mortality from liver diseases. Researchers believe that sugar causes sharp spikes in glucose and insulin, contributing to fat accumulation, while artificial sweeteners may disrupt the gut microbiome and provoke cravings for sweets.
The authors emphasize that replacing both types of drinks with water was the most effective way to reduce the risk of liver disease — by 13-15 percent. Experts urge a reevaluation of the perception of the harmlessness of diet drinks and recommend including their elimination in programs for the prevention of metabolic disorders.
