Thought It Was Healthy... Even One Can of "Zero Beverage" Can Be Deadly for the Liver

Both Sugar-Sweetened and Zero-Calorie Beverages Raise Fatty Liver Risk
"Zero Cola Instead of Regular Cola? Water Is Best"

A study has found that drinking even a single can of beverages such as "zero cola," which use artificial sweeteners instead of sugar, increases the risk of developing fatty liver disease.

On October 6 (local time), CNN and other U.S. media reported that researchers from Suzhou University in China presented these findings at the annual meeting of the European Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy held in Berlin, Germany. CNN emphasized, "This study challenges the common perception that artificially sweetened beverages are less harmful."

Drinking cola has been found to increase the risk of fatty liver disease. Pixabay

The researchers focused on metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), which is also known as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). This condition is characterized by excessive fat accumulation in the liver, even in individuals who do not drink alcohol or drink very little. It is the most common chronic liver disease, estimated to affect about 30% of the global population. Over time, it can lead to hepatitis, pain, and fatigue. In severe cases, it may progress to cirrhosis and liver cancer.

The research team at Suzhou University extracted data from more than 124,000 people in the UK Biobank and analyzed the relationship between their beverage consumption habits and MASLD over a 10-year period. During the follow-up period, a total of 1,178 people were diagnosed with MASLD, and 108 died from liver disease.

Data analysis showed that consuming more than 250 grams per day of beverages containing artificial sweeteners increased the risk of developing MASLD by 60%. Sugar-sweetened beverages showed a 47% increase in risk under the same conditions.

Notably, sugar-sweetened beverages were not clearly associated with liver-related mortality, whereas beverages containing artificial sweeteners were linked to an increased risk of death from liver-related causes. However, both types of beverages were correlated with increased liver fat. Liu Lihe, a graduate student in the Department of Gastroenterology at the First Affiliated Hospital of Suzhou University who led the study, stated, "Water is the healthiest beverage."