Ultra-processed food intake was linked to fatty liver disease in cohort studies
A review found an association with developing metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease. The pooled evidence did not show a statistically significant association with primary liver cancer.
Based on the published abstract. The full paper may contain additional methods, results and limitations.
The 30-second takeaway
People with the highest ultra-processed food consumption had a higher observed risk of developing metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease, or MASLD. Because the evidence came from cohort studies, it cannot establish that these foods caused liver disease. Results for primary liver cancer were uncertain and did not reach statistical significance.
The abstract does not identify the reference intake categories, follow-up lengths or factors used in the adjusted analyses. This limits interpretation of the exposure comparison and the possibility of remaining confounding.
Separate liver outcomes
The review examined new cases of fatty liver disease and primary liver cancer as distinct outcomes. The pooled association for fatty liver disease should not be extended to liver cancer, where the results were inconclusive.
Consistency has limits
Sensitivity analyses left the main conclusions unchanged. Analyses treating food intake as a continuous measure also supported an association with MASLD, but cancer findings conflicted. Consistency within observational analyses still does not show what changing intake would do.
The original publication
Higher consumption of ultra-processed foods and long-term risk of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease and primary liver cancer: A meta-analysis of preliminary evidence.
Souza M, Lima LCV, Amaral MJM et al.
Clin Nutr ESPEN · 2026
- PubMed ID
- 41274499
- Record checked
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