Khaberni - A recent study indicated that replacing sugary drinks with low-sugar or artificially sweetened drinks does not provide protection from fatty liver disease.
Researchers, during the conference of the European Society of Gastrointestinal Diseases in Berlin, mentioned that both sugar-sweetened beverages and those low in sugar or sugar-free are closely linked to an increased risk of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, a condition in which fat accumulates inside the liver due to metabolic disorders and may lead to inflammation or liver failure.
More than 30% of the global population suffers from fatty liver disease, and it is an increasing cause of liver disease-related deaths.
The new study followed 123,788 volunteers in the United Kingdom who had no liver diseases at the start of the study. Over a follow-up period of 10.3 years, the participants completed periodic questionnaires about the food and drinks they regularly consume.
During the study, 1,178 participants developed non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, and 108 of them died from liver-related causes.
The results showed that consuming more than 330 grams per day of sugar-sweetened, low-sugar, or sugar-free beverages was linked to a clear increase in the risk of developing fatty liver.
Both types of drinks were associated with higher liver fat levels, although the study could not prove that these beverages cause this condition.
"Sugary drinks have long been under scrutiny, while their alternatives are seen as the healthier choice. However, our study shows that these alternatives may be linked to an increased risk of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, even when consumed in moderate amounts," said study leader Leyi Liu from Suzhou University Hospital in a statement.
