Eating too much fructose, like from sugary drinks, makes your liver turn it into fat, which can build up and lead to fatty liver disease—even if you don't drink alcohol.

What we've found so far is that the evidence we've reviewed leans toward a link between high fructose intake and the development of fatty liver disease. Our analysis of the available research shows that consuming too much fructose, such as from sugary drinks, may lead to fat building up in the liver, even in people who don’t drink alcohol [1]. We looked at 58 studies or assertions, and all of them support the idea that excess fructose can be converted into fat by the liver, which may contribute to fatty liver disease [1]. None of the evidence we reviewed refuted this. This pattern suggests a consistent finding across the data we’ve examined so far. However, we emphasize that this is our current understanding based on what has been studied and reported—not a final conclusion. We don’t yet know how much fructose, over what period, leads to these changes in everyone, since individual responses can vary. Also, most of the evidence focuses on fructose from added sugars like those in sweetened beverages, not from whole fruits. That means we can’t assume the same effects come from eating an apple versus drinking a soda. Our analysis does not prove that fructose causes fatty liver disease, but the evidence we’ve reviewed consistently points in that direction. We also don’t yet have enough data to say whether reducing fructose intake reverses the condition, though that’s an area we’re continuing to explore. Practical takeaway: If you're concerned about liver health, it may be worth limiting sugary drinks and processed foods with added fructose—what we’ve seen so far suggests these could play a role in fat building up in the liver.