Drinking diet soda every day raises liver disease risk
Drinking just one can of diet soda a day could raise your risk of a serious liver condition (MASLD) by 60%, according to new research presented at United European Gastroenterology Week.
Regular sugary sodas also increased the risk, but not as much.
Study details
Researchers tracked over 120,000 people in the UK for about 10 years.
Both diet and sugary sodas were linked to more liver fat, but only diet soda was tied to higher chances of dying from liver-related issues.
In total, over a thousand people developed MASLD during the study.
Why diet sodas are more harmful
Lead researcher Lihe Liu explained that even modest amounts of low- or no-sugar drinks are linked to a higher risk of MASLD—possibly because they can alter the gut microbiome, disrupt feelings of fullness, and may affect how the body handles glucose and insulin.
Water is the safest choice
Swapping out any kind of soda for water lowered the risk of MASLD by up to 15%.
Switching between regular and diet sodas didn't help—so if you want to do your liver a favor, water really is the safest choice.