Overview

• Researchers reported that drinking more than about 250 grams (roughly 9 ounces) per day of either sugar‑sweetened or low‑/non‑sugar‑sweetened beverages was associated with higher risk of metabolic dysfunction–associated steatotic liver disease.
• Estimated risk increases reached about 50% for sugary drinks and about 60% for low‑ or non‑sugar‑sweetened drinks.
• Replacing sweetened beverages with water was linked to modest risk reductions of roughly 13% to 15%, while switching between sugary and diet drinks showed no risk benefit.
• The prospective analysis followed approximately 103,000 to nearly 124,000 UK Biobank participants without liver disease for about a decade using repeated 24‑hour dietary recalls.
• The abstract also noted a link between diet beverages and liver‑related deaths and proposed possible biological and behavioral mechanisms, with experts emphasizing limitations and the need for peer review.