BOTH full-fat and diet fizzy drinks raise your risk of liver disease, scientists have found.
They said their study crushes the belief that sugar-free drinks are harmless.
Any sweetened soft drinks were linked to higher levels of fat in the liver (stock image)[/caption]
Records from 124,000 Brits revealed that people who regularly drank any sweetened beverages were up to 60 per cent more likely to develop non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.
They suggested as little as one can per day was harmful.
One in five people in the UK are thought to have liver disease and rates are rising.
Study author Lihe Liu, from Soochow University in China, said both types of sweetened drinks are linked to fat build-up in the liver.
Over the long term, fat can lead to permanent scarring which blocks the organ’s normal function and eventually causes it to fail, which can be deadly.
One drink a day tied to risk
The study found people who drank at least 250ml of sugar-sweetened drinks per day were 50 per cent more likely to develop liver disease.
People who drank the same amount of diet alternatives had a 60 per cent higher risk.
Liu said: “Sugar-sweetened beverages have long been under scrutiny while their ‘diet’ alternatives are often seen as the healthier choice.
“Our findings challenge the common perception that these drinks are harmless.
“They highlight the need to reconsider their role in diet and liver health, especially as liver disease emerges as a global health concern.
“The safest approach is to limit both sugar-sweetened and artificially sweetened drinks.
“Water remains the best choice as it prevents fat accumulation in the liver whilst hydrating the body.”
The study said that sugary drinks directly increase fat in the liver as sugar is stored by the body.
Diet drinks might do so by disrupting gut bacteria and insulin production, and also drive cravings for junk food.
People’s liver disease risk declined when they swapped soft drinks for water.
Early symptoms of the illness might include tiredness or feeling low on energy, or discomfort in the upper right side of your tummy.
What the stages of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease?
THERE are several stages of NAFLD.
Having one stage does not mean you will definitely develop the next one.
Treating NAFLD with a healthy diet, physical activity and weight loss can slow or even reverse it, especially if it is at an earlier stage.
The amount of scarring (fibrosis) in your liver is the main sign of how advanced your NAFLD is. Go to the section about fibrosis tests and scores.
- Fatty liver: There is a build-up of fat in your liver but it has not been damaged and there is no scarring. At this point, NAFLD can be fully reversed.
- Non-alcohol related steatohepatitis (NASH) with mild fibrosis : Fat is causing inflammation and damage in your liver (hepatitis). There is no or very little scarring. Healthy living can undo the damage and reverse your NAFLD.
- NASH with moderate fibrosis: Inflammation and damage have caused some scarring. Your liver is probably still working well and the damage can mostly be repaired.
- NASH with advanced fibrosis: There is a lot of scarring. At this stage it is very important to stop further damage and scarring so your NAFLD doesn’t get worse. And it is still possible to repair some damage.
- Cirrhosis: There is so much scarring it changes the shape of your liver. Your liver can keep working and even repair some damage at this point. But if too much of it becomes scarred, your liver may not be able to carry out its job properly.
Cirrhosis can lead to life-threatening conditions including liver cancer and liver failure.
Source: The British Liver Trust
