Researchers at the University of Soochow in China reported that consuming industrial beverages—whether they contain sugar or not—is closely linked to an increased development of metabolic dysfunction-associated liver disease, known as MASLD, CNews reported.
MASLD, previously referred to as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease or metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease, is characterized by an abnormal accumulation of fats inside liver cells. It develops in individuals with metabolic syndrome indicators such as abdominal obesity, high cholesterol, diabetes, or high blood pressure, even if they do not consume alcohol.
The condition represents the most common liver disease worldwide. Severe lesions resulting from the disease can progress to cirrhosis and severe liver scarring, producing clinical effects that share similarities with heavy alcohol consumption.
According to the public health information site Amelie.fr cited by CNews, steatotic accumulation targets cells that normally contain little to no fat. Healthy livers possess very low fat concentrations, making them vulnerable to this specific metabolic buildup.
- MASLD Mechanism: Metabolic dysfunction-associated liver disease involves excess fat accumulation in liver tissue among patients with metabolic syndrome who do not drink alcohol.
- Beverage Risk: Both sugary drinks and zero-sugar or light alternatives are linked to rising incidence rates of this hepatic condition.
- Consumption Threshold: Regular intake as modest as a single 25-centiliter can per day shows statistical links to elevated liver disease risks.
Investigators analyzed consumption patterns and found that zero-sugar or low-sugar beverages carry notable associations with the condition. Lihe Liu, the principal researcher behind the study, outlined these findings regarding daily intake levels.
“Our study shows that the beverages with low sugar or no sugar are linked to a higher risk of MASLD, even at modest consumption levels like a single can per day,” Liu told CNews.
The research demonstrated that consuming just 25 centiliters of a sugary beverage daily raises the statistical risk of developing MASLD by 50 percent. Meanwhile, researchers observed that the exact same quantity of a light or artificially sweetened soda could increase that specific risk by 60 percent.
| Beverage Type (25 cl daily) | Risk Increase Percentage |
|---|---|
| Standard sugary soda | 50% |
| Low-sugar or light soda | 60% |
To avoid contracting this pathology, Liu indicated that maintaining constant vigilance regarding daily beverage choices is essential for public health.
- University of Soochow research data via CNews reporting.
- Amelie.fr public health database.
