Maybe sugar substitutes aren\u2019t such a Splenda-did idea.<\/p>\n
An eye-opening new study<\/a> links artificially sweetened beverages to an increased risk of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD<\/a>), the most common liver disease in the US. Surprisingly, these supposed guilt-free guzzlers carried a higher risk than sugary soda.<\/p>\n \u201cOur study shows that [low- or non-sugar-sweetened beverages] were actually linked to a higher risk of MASLD, even at modest intake levels such as a single can per day,\u201d said lead study author Lihe Liu, a gastroenterology grad student at the First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University in China.<\/p>\n That diet soda may not be as healthy as you think. New Africa \u2013 stock.adobe.com<\/p>\n \u201cThese findings challenge the common perception that these drinks are harmless and highlight the need to reconsider their role in diet and liver health,\u201d Liu added, \u201cespecially as MASLD emerges as a global health concern.\u201d<\/p>\n Diet drinks have long been marketed as a healthier alternative to soda because they don\u2019t have loads of sugar and calories.<\/p>\n But research has increasingly suggested<\/a> a link between artificial sweeteners and elevated risks of metabolic syndrome, Type 2 diabetes and heart troubles. Some sugar substitutes<\/a> are suspected of disrupting gut health, altering\u00a0blood sugar regulation and promoting blood clots.<\/p>\n \u201c[Sugar-sweetened beverages] have long been under scrutiny, while their \u2018diet\u2019 alternatives are often seen as the healthier choice,\u201d Liu said.<\/p>\n \u201cBoth, however, are widely consumed and their effects on liver health have not been well understood.\u201d<\/p>\n Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is the most common liver disease in the US. jaojormami \u2013 stock.adobe.com<\/p>\n Liu\u2019s team had nearly 123,800 UK residents without liver disease repeatedly share their hydration habits between 2009 and 2012.<\/p>\n Participants were asked:\u00a0\u201cHow many glasses, cans or cartons containing 250 mL of soft drinks did you drink yesterday?\u201d<\/p>\n Two hundred and fifty milliliters is about 8.4 fluid ounces, the equivalent of a slim can of soda.<\/p>\n Participants were followed for over a decade to see if they developed MASLD.<\/p>\n That\u2019s when excess fat accumulates in the liver, leading to inflammation and potential damage. Fatigue, malaise and stomach pain are among the common symptoms.<\/p>\n Consuming more than a slim can of diet soda a day resulted in a 60% higher risk of MASLD. The same amount of regular soda carried a 50% higher risk.<\/p>\n Excess fat is bad for the liver. It can cause inflammation, cell damage and scarring. Getty Images\/iStockphoto<\/p>\n Both beverage types caused fattiness in livers, while only diet drinks were tied to an elevated risk of liver-related deaths.<\/p>\n \u201cThe higher sugar content in [sugary beverages] can cause rapid spikes in blood glucose and insulin, promote weight gain and increase uric acid levels, all of which contribute to liver fat accumulation,\u201d Liu explained.<\/p>\n \u201c[Diet drinks], on the other hand, may affect liver health by altering the gut microbiome, disrupting the feeling of fullness, driving sweet cravings and even stimulating insulin secretion.\u201d<\/p>\n