A new study finds that sugar and diet soda increase the risk of liver disease.
A new study finds that just 9 ounces of sugar or diet soda each day increases the risk of liver disease.
You may want to skip drinking soda in the afternoon.
A new study finds that even moderate amounts of artificial sweeteners and sugary drinks are linked to an increased risk of liver disease.
Drinking 9 ounces of sugary drinks a day increases the risk of metabolic disorder-related fatty liver disease (MASLD) by 50 percent, and drinking a single diet soda lowers the risk, according to a new study presented Oct. 6 at the 2025 United European Gastroenterology Week conference in Berlin. They say it could increase by 60%. A standard can of soda is 12 ounces.
MASLD, formerly known as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, is It’s a condition This is where fat accumulates in the liver. most common Global form of liver disease. Damage may lead to: severe liver scarringor cirrhosis, similar to the effects of excessive alcohol use.
“Our study found that (low-sugar or no-sugar beverages) were actually associated with a higher risk of MASLD, even at moderate consumption levels, such as one can per day.” senior author The author of this study is Lihe Liu, a graduate student in the Department of Gastroenterology at the First Affiliated Hospital of Soju University in Suzhou, China.
Sugary drinks are under scrutiny.
News surrounding the health risks of soda is not new. The fizzy bubbles in your favorite drinks are caused by carbon dioxide gas, a chemical compound that, along with many other ingredients in soda, has more of an effect on your stomach than some people think. Added sugars, such as cane sugar or high-fructose corn syrup, can have negative health effects.
“The body processes fructose similarly, but fructose is metabolized primarily in the liver. Excessive consumption of fructose, especially from sugary drinks or other concentrated sources, can promote fat accumulation in the liver, which is a leading cause of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease,” says Wesley McWhorter, spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Dr. McWhorter previously told USA TODAY.
The new insight into soda comes amid growing interest in what goes into Americans’ diets. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is leading the Trump administration’s push to eliminate certain food ingredients, such as artificial dyes. The administration’s efforts led Coca-Cola to agree in July to use cane sugar in its U.S. sodas.
Nonetheless, diet options can give us the impression that we are avoiding something bad. But science says otherwise.
“(Sugar-sweetened beverages) have long been under scrutiny, and ‘diet’ alternatives are often seen as healthier choices. However, both are widely consumed and their effects on liver health are not well understood,” Liu said. name.
Perhaps the best option is to drink a glass of water when you feel thirsty. And if you must satisfy your Diet Coke craving, do it in moderation.
Contribution: Darryl Austin, Mary Wallace-Holdridge
