Regularly drinking sugary or artificially sweetened sodas could seriously damage your liver, even if it’s just one can a day. New research, presented at UEG Week 2025 in Berlin, raises the alarm: neither is harmless.
The study analyzed data from more than 123,000 people from the UK Biobank, all of whom had no liver disease at the start of the research. Participants filled out food questionnaires, indicating how often they consumed sugary drinks (such as cola, orange soda, iced tea) or artificially sweetened drinks (the classic “sugar-free”).
After a follow-up of over 10 years, the results were clear:
MASLD (Steatotic Liver Disease Associated with Metabolic Dysfunction), formerly known as non-alcoholic fatty liver (NAFLD), is a condition in which fat accumulates in the liver. Over time it can progress to inflammation, liver damage and, in the worst cases, lead to death. It is the most common chronic liver disease in the world and cases continue to increase.
“Sugar-free” drinks are no longer safe
A surprising fact concerns “sugar-free” drinks. Not only do they increase the risk of MASLD, but the study also found a link with liver-related mortality. Reducing sugars wasn’t enough: even artificial sweeteners can compromise liver health.
According to Lihe Liu, lead author of the study:
People think that the diet versions are safer, but our research shows that this is not the case. Even one can a day is already too much.
Possible reasons? Sugary drinks cause blood sugar spikes, weight gain and uric acid buildup. The diet versions, however, could modify the intestinal microbiota, stimulate cravings for sweets and interfere with insulin regulation. In any case, the liver pays the bill.
Water for life: replacing these drinks with water reduces the risk by 15%
The good news is that simply replace these drinks with water to lower the risk:
However, switching from a sugary drink to a “sugar-free” one has no real benefit.
The scientists’ recommendation is clear: less drinks (of all types) and more water. It is the simplest, cheapest and healthiest choice to avoid fat accumulation in the liver and protect long-term metabolic health.
The research team now intends to delve deeper into these links through genetic and long-term studies, with a focus on how sugars and artificial sweeteners interact with the gut and impact the liver.
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