UK Biobank Study Links Diet and Sugary Sodas to Elevated Liver Disease Risk

A recent major study presented at UEG Week 2025 links both sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) and low- or non-sugar-sweetened beverages (LNSSBs), such as diet sodas, to an increased risk of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), previously known as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Analysis of over 100,000 UK Biobank participants over a median follow-up of around 10 years found that consuming more than one can daily of either beverage type raised the risk of developing MASLD by 50-60%, with LNSSBs also associated with higher liver-related mortality and increased liver fat content. This challenges the common perception that diet sodas are harmless and suggests the need to reconsider their role in diet and liver health. MASLD involves fat buildup in the liver not caused by alcohol and can lead to serious liver complications and cardiovascular disease. Additionally, rising cases of fatty liver and high triglycerides in children, particularly associated with poor diet and sedentary behavior, highlight growing health concerns globally. These findings emphasize the importance of dietary choices in preventing liver disease.