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Major study of diet drinks raises questions about their health impact

Published

6 months ago

October 12, 2025

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Major study of diet drinks raises questions about their health impact

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Swapping your regular soda for a diet version may not be any healthier for the liver, new research suggests.

A study of UK Biobank data found that both sugary drinks and artificially sweetened ones, even those labeled zero sugar, are linked to a higher risk of liver disease.

Th findings were presented this week at United European Gastroenterology Week in Berlin, Germany.

CANCER TREATMENT COULD BE LESS EFFECTIVE IF PATIENTS CONSUME POPULAR SWEETENER

The study followed more than 120,000 adults over 10 years. None of them had liver disease when the research began.

Over time, scientists tracked what the participants drank and also assessed their liver health.

Those who drank diet drinks — low- or non-sugar-sweetened beverages — had a higher risk of liver disease, the study found. (iStock)

People who drank a lot of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) — like soda, sweet tea or energy drinks — had about a 50% higher risk of developing a serious liver condition called metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), also known as fatty liver disease not caused by alcohol.

“SSBs have long been under scrutiny, while their diet alternatives are often seen as the healthier choice,” lead author Lihe Liu, a graduate student in the Department of Gastroenterology at the First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, China, said in a press release.

YOUR DAILY DIET SODA COULD BE AGING YOUR BRAIN FASTER THAN YOU THINK, STUDY FINDS

However, those who drank diet drinks — low- or non-sugar-sweetened beverages (or LNSSBs) — had an even higher risk of liver disease, at around 60%.

That implies that switching from regular to diet soda didn’t protect their livers — and might have made things even worse.

Replacing either beverage with water reduced liver disease risk by as much as 15%, while substitution between the two types of beverages offered no risk reduction. (iStock)

People who regularly drank artificially sweetened drinks were also more likely to die from liver-related causes, the research suggested.

“Our study shows that LNSSBs were actually linked to a higher risk of MASLD, even at modest intake levels such as a single can per day,” Liu said.

SUGAR IN DRINKS LINKED TO HIGHER DIABETES RISK THAN THAT IN FOOD, NEW RESEARCH FINDS

“These findings challenge the common perception that these drinks are harmless and highlight the need to reconsider their role in diet and liver health,” she added.

As to why zero-sugar might be harmful, scientists think it may have to do with how artificial sweeteners affect the body.

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They have been shown to alter gut bacteria, increase cravings for sweets and confuse the brain’s hunger and fullness signals, for example.

Some research even suggests they may still trigger insulin spikes, something that is usually blamed on sugar.

Some research suggests that diet drinks may still trigger insulin spikes, something that is usually blamed on sugar. (iStock)

Liu said the safest approach is to limit both sugar-sweetened and artificially-sweetened drinks.

Swapping sugary or diet soda for water was shown to reduce liver disease risk by as much as 15%, while substitution between the two types of beverages offered no risk reduction.

“Water remains the best choice, as it removes the metabolic burden and prevents fat accumulation in the liver, whilst hydrating the body,” the researcher noted.

Liver disease is already one of the fastest-growing health problems worldwide, affecting approximately 4.5 million U.S. adults, according to CDC data.

As the full study had not yet been published in a peer-reviewed journal, potential limitations of the study were not available.

“Water remains the best choice, as it removes the metabolic burden and prevents fat accumulation in the liver, whilst hydrating the body,” the researcher said. (iStock)

Some experts, however, pointed out that the beverage consumption was self-reported and may have some inaccuracies. The observational study also identifies an association, but does not prove that the beverages caused liver issues.

The Calorie Control Council, the international association representing the low- and reduced-calorie food and beverage industry, echoed these potential limitations.

“The public should demand science-bas‎ed findings, ‎especially those intended to inform their food and beverage choices,” said Carla Saunders, president of the Calorie Control Council in Washington, D.C., in a statement to Fox News Digital. “One such peer-‎reviewed long-term clinical trial published in the International Journal of Obesity proved that ‎low- and no calorie sweetened beverages are just as effective as water in terms of safety ‎and efficacy.”

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Fox News Digital reached out to the American Beverage Association and to the study researchers requesting comment.

Khloe Quill is a lifestyle production assistant with Fox News Digital. She and the lifestyle team cover a range of story topics including food and drink, travel, and health.

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Health

Another state bans ‘gas station heroin’ as officials warn of deadly risks

Published

6 minutes ago

March 27, 2026

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Another state bans ‘gas station heroin’ as officials warn of deadly risks

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Conversation-starters

→ March Madness sparks surprising surge in men’s sexual procedure

→ Cannabis benefits called into question in major study

→ ‘Call a Boomer’ payphones help cure loneliness across generations

Along a bustling sidewalk in Boston, a bright yellow payphone invites folks to “Call a Boomer.” (Matter Neuroscience)

Food for thought

→ Eating meat tied to lower dementia risk, study suggests

→ Stomach issues might have nothing to do with eating habits

→ Why your sugar cravings won’t go away, even after cutting sweets

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This article was written by Fox News staff.

Health

Dementia risk signals could lie in simple blood pressure readings, researchers say

Published

12 hours ago

March 27, 2026

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Dementia risk signals could lie in simple blood pressure readings, researchers say

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Simple measurements taken during routine blood pressure checks could predict dementia risk years before symptoms appear.

That’s according to new research presented this week at the American College of Cardiology’s Annual Scientific Session in Louisiana.

The findings draw on two studies led by researchers at Georgetown University, which suggest that monitoring how blood vessels age and stiffen over time can provide a window into future cognitive health.

LURKING DEMENTIA RISK EXPOSED BY BREAKTHROUGH TEST 25 YEARS BEFORE SYMPTOMS

Data shows rates of dementia and aging-related cognitive decline are expected to increase as populations age, and half of U.S. adults have high blood pressure (hypertension).

Scientists believe that efforts to better address hypertension, a key contributor to heart disease and a risk factor for dementia, could affect both cardiac and brain health.

Data shows rates of dementia and aging-related cognitive decline are expected to increase as populations age. Meanwhile, half of U.S. adults have high blood pressure. (iStock)

“Blood pressure management isn’t just about preventing heart attacks and strokes; it may also be one of the most actionable strategies for preserving cognitive health,” Dr. Newton Nyirenda, the study’s lead author and an epidemiologist at Georgetown University in Washington, said in a press release.

The research focused on two metrics, the pulse pressure-heart rate index and estimated pulse wave velocity. Both were calculated using data collected during standard doctor visits, such as heart rate, age and blood pressure.

“Blood pressure management isn’t just about preventing heart attacks and strokes; it may also be one of the most actionable strategies for preserving cognitive health.”

Researchers examined five years of data patterns for more than 8,500 people in the SPRINT trial, a large study of adults 50 years and older with hypertension. In the follow-up, 323 of the participants developed probable dementia.

HIDDEN BRAIN CONDITION MAY QUADRUPLE DEMENTIA RISK IN OLDER ADULTS, STUDY SUGGESTS

In one study, the team found the pulse pressure-heart rate index was a strong independent predictor of dementia risk in adults over 50. For participants under 65, every one-unit increase was associated with a 76% higher risk of developing dementia.

For participants under 65, an increase in the pulse pressure-heart rate index was associated with a 76% higher risk of developing dementia. (iStock)

The second study found that adults with consistently elevated or rapidly increasing pulse wave velocity were more likely to develop dementia than those with stable velocity, even after accounting for factors like smoking, gender and cardiovascular history.

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“Our findings suggest that vascular aging patterns may provide meaningful insight into future dementia risk,” said Nyirenda. “This reinforces the idea that managing vascular health earlier in life may influence long-term brain health.”

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The team emphasized that clinicians should tailor risk assessments and treatment strategies to the individual.

Further studies are needed to confirm these parameters and determine whether changing vascular aging trajectories reduces dementia risk. (iStock)

“You don’t want to wait until a patient starts manifesting cognitive decline before you act,” said senior study author Sula Mazimba, an associate professor at the University of Virginia.

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Researchers noted the study could not establish causation. Other limitations included the fact that participants already had hypertension and elevated cardiovascular risk, meaning the findings may not apply to people without those conditions.

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Further studies are needed to confirm these findings and to determine whether improving blood vessel health over time could reduce dementia risk.

Khloe Quill is a lifestyle production assistant with Fox News Digital. She and the lifestyle team cover a range of story topics including food and drink, travel, and health.

Health

Everything You Need To Know About Zepbound for Weight Loss, Including Costs

Published

23 hours ago

March 26, 2026

Press Room

Everything You Need To Know About Zepbound for Weight Loss, Including Costs

What Is Zepbound? Weight-Loss Benefits, Costs and Dosage

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