It is a liver disease that affects nearly 30% of the world’s population : steatotic liver disease associated with metabolic dysfunction, known by the acronym MASLD. Until last June, it was known by the acronym NAFLD for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease or non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. It is characterized by a accumulation of fat in the liver. It is most often diagnosed in patients aged between 40 and 60 years, although it is found in all age groups, and patients suffering from obesity, type 2 diabetes, dyslipidemia (a level of high cholesterol and/or triglycerides), or even metabolic syndrome.
Researchers have looked into the effects of consuming “sugar-free” and “light” sodas on this disease. According to the results of specialists, increased consumption of this type of drink increases the risk of MASLD. Their results are published in the journal BMC Public Health.
Increased consumption of “light” and “sugar-free” sodas increases the risk of liver disease
To arrive at these results, the researchers based themselves on a panel of 2,378 participants registered in different national surveys, carried out in the United States, on health and nutrition, called (NHANES). They were carried out between 2003 and 2006. MASLD was identified using the Fatty Liver Index (FLI), a non-invasive tool to predict the presence or absence of steatosis (abnormal accumulation of fat) in patients at risk. The researchers noted the frequency of consumption of “diet” sodas and the appearance of MASLD. Additionally, they analyzed the body mass index (BMI) of the participants.
Among the analyzed panel, 1,089 people suffered from MASLD, which equated to a prevalence rate of 43.64%. Subsequently, the researchers adjusted the various variables linked, in particular to lifestyle, physical activity or metabolic syndrome. Researchers discovered that drinking diet sodas on a large and regular basis was “significantly associated with the occurrence of MASLD”. Additionally, the researchers noted that “BMI may play a mediating role in the association between diet soft drink consumption and MASLD”. In other words, a high BMI can increase the risk of MASLD.
Diet and “sugar-free” sodas increase the risk of obesity and type 2 diabetes
But what happens so that “light” or “sugar-free” sodas can have this effect? According to Dr. Menka Gupta of Nutranourish, a functional medicine provider, interviewed by Medical News Today, “The gut-brain axis involves two-way communication between the gastrointestinal tract and the central nervous system. THE Artificial sweeteners in diet sodas may influence gut microbiota compositionwhich in turn can influence this axis”. The latter believes that “this can affect metabolic processes and potentially contribute to liver-related problems.”
This is not the first time that a study has pointed out the effects of consuming “light” and “sugar-free” sodas on health.. “A growing number of studies have shown that consumption of diet soft drinks is associated with increased risk of obesity, Type 2 diabetes and other features of metabolic syndrome”, remind the researchers. According to them, “The health risks of diet soft drinks mainly come from artificial sweeteners, such as aspartame and sucralose”. As a reminder, aspartame has been classified as potentially carcinogenic to humans by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) of the World Health Organization (WHO).
The researchers point out that their study has several limitations, such as not having analyzed sleep habits or genetic variants. They call for future research on the subject.
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