A study has found that a common artificial sweetener used in sugar free products can increase the risk of a deadly liver disease.
The latest research has discovered that the artificial sweetener sorbitol can cause a dangerous accumulation of fat in the liver, leading to Metabolic Dysfunction Associated Steatotic Liver Disease (MASLD).
Previously known as Non Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease, this condition is not related to alcohol consumption, which is the most common cause of liver problems.
Published in the Journal Science Signaling, the study examined the gut microbiome of zebrafish to understand how it reacts when exposed to sorbitol.
The gut microbiome is a natural ecosystem composed of billions of beneficial bacteria and fungi that aid in digestion and absorption of nutrients.
Researchers found that a disruption in the gut microbiome contributes to liver disease, even when the fish were fed a normal diet.
Normally, bacteria in the microbiome break down sorbitol, preventing harm.
