Studies on sugary drinks follow one another and all confirm that they are unhealthy. This new American study highlights the fact that drinking sodas regularly increases the risk of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NASH).
Researchers at the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy at the University of Massachusetts (USA) compared the consumption of cola and sweetened bubble drinks by 2,634 men and women to their concentration of fat in the liver , thanks to the CT scan.
The study’s findings show that people who drink more than one sugary drink per day had a greater degree of risk for NARS than those who drink water instead.
The presence of NASH was observed following standard medical procedures, and the same results were observed after taking into account risk factors such as gender, age, BMI and lifestyle.
“Our study adds to a large body of paper devoted to the subject and focuses on the relationship between the consumption of sugary drinks and the onset of NASH and other chronic diseases including diabetes and cardiovascular problems”, explains Jiantao Ma, researcher in nutrition and dietetics, a graduate of the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, lead author of the study.
As the survey does not establish a direct link between the consumption of soda and the risk of developing this pathology, the scientists said they wanted to deepen the subject and carry out new studies to understand the causality.
“If the obesity epidemic is any indicator, the NASH effect observed in the United States could resonate around the world,” says Mark Thursz of the European Association for the Study of the Liver, which conducted the research. “It is imperative that health systems continue to offer educational programs to raise awareness and alert the general public to the risks by emphasizing the importance of healthy diet and exercise,” concludes the researcher.
In addition, scientists note an increase in cases of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in people who are obese or suffering from diabetes. These observations show that a diet that is too rich can have the same effects on the liver as an unreasonable consumption of alcohol.
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