Consuming sugary drinks can inflict more severe liver damage than drinking alcohol in moderation, with harmful effects appearing in just weeks rather than years, an expert has warned.
Dr Edmond Hakimi, Medical Director at Wellbridge in Calverton, New York, revealed that beverages high in fructose can lead to significant fat accumulation in the liver within weeks of regular consumption.
"Daily high-fructose beverage intake can cause measurable fat buildup in the liver within weeks, whereas alcoholic fatty liver disease typically takes years of heavy drinking," Dr Hakimi told GB News.
The accelerated damage affects those who regularly consume fizzy drinks, fruit juices and energy drinks.
Sugary foods contribute to insulin resistance and other metabolic imbalances
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"Foods high in added sugar (candy, cakes, cookies, sodas, fruit juices) pose the greatest risk of worsening fatty liver disease. This is due to the high amounts of fructose and sucrose in them," Dr Hakimi shared.
He detailed the biological mechanism behind the damage: "Fructose is metabolised almost entirely in the liver where it promotes lipogenesis (fat production), oxidative stress, and inflammation."
The medical director added that these sugary foods contribute to insulin resistance, which further exacerbates fat accumulation in liver tissue.
Certain dietary combinations can inflict particularly severe harm on liver health, according to Dr Hakimi's analysis.
"Sugar drinks paired with high-fat meals (soda + pizza) result in a rapid buildup of fat droplets in liver cells and cause spikes in insulin and triglycerides, worsening insulin resistance," the medical director explained.
The combination of alcohol with sweet mixers proves especially dangerous for liver function.
"Alcohol paired with sugary mixers (rum + cola, vodka + cranberry juice) results in severe inflammation and fibrosis risk," Dr Hakimi warned.
He noted that although alcohol damages the liver through acetaldehyde production and oxidative stress, the addition of fructose intensifies fat production, creating a compounded effect.
But it's not just sugary drinks that pose a risk; energy drinks mixed with alcohol are another hazardous combination.
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Sugary drinks can exacerbate fat accumulation in liver tissue
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"Energy drinks paired with alcohol have the same effects as alcohol and sugary mixtures and have been linked to acute liver injury," Dr Hakimi stated.
What's more, combining sugar with alcohol can accelerate the deterioration from fatty liver to more serious conditions.
"Alcohol stresses the liver via acetaldehyde and oxidative stress, the added sugar/fructose amplifies lipogenesis, and together this leads to faster progression from fatty liver to steatohepatitis," he explained.
This progression represents a more severe form of liver disease involving inflammation alongside fat accumulation.