Overview

• Consuming about 250–330 grams a day (roughly one can) of low‑ or non‑sugar‑sweetened beverages was associated with about a 60% higher risk of MASLD, while sugar‑sweetened drinks were linked to about a 50% higher risk.
• Only low‑ or non‑sugar‑sweetened beverages showed a dose‑dependent association with liver‑related mortality, though both drink types were tied to greater liver fat.
• Replacing 330 grams of these beverages with water was associated with lower MASLD risk by roughly 13% for sugary drinks and about 15% for low‑ or non‑sugar‑sweetened drinks, and switching between the two drink types did not reduce risk.
• The prospective study tracked roughly 103,000 to 124,000 UK Biobank participants without liver disease for about a decade using repeated 24‑hour dietary recalls, with hundreds of MASLD cases and over 100 liver‑related deaths recorded.
• Authors note key limitations including self‑reported intake, lack of data on specific sweeteners or brands, and the observational design, which means the results do not establish causation.