Common eating habits linked to increased risk of two liver diseases

It's time to rethink the night raids on the fridge or cupboard with cookies and chips. The fact that the new study has found a link between snacking after hours and two types of liver disease: cirrhosis and steatosis of the liver associated with metabolic dysfunction.

The comprehensive study analyzed data from 199,155 people with an average age of 59. Participants undergo ongoing health research and complete diet and lifestyle questionnaires every 2-4 years. The authors of the new study found a 28 percent higher risk of developing cirrhosis of the liver and a 36 percent higher risk of developing MASLD in those who eat late at night, compared with those with normal meal times. Late meals at night were defined as eating “after sleep” or “between dinner and going to bed.” To put this increased risk into perspective, liver cirrhosis remained rare, with 315 cases reported among nearly 200,000 participants over the follow-up period.

“Several studies have hinted at this idea, but this is one of the first long-term analyses that clearly indicates a link to fatty liver disease,” explains hepatologist Robert Wilechanski. We know that the liver largely matches the body’s circadian rhythms. Therefore, we are interested in changing the timing of meals in a way that can affect health without changing the composition of what people eat.

The average follow-up time for the study participants was 16 years, taking into account factors such as age, body mass index and physical activity, and the association between eating late at night remained significant after adjustments.

Researchers speculate that the liver is not ready to digest food effectively late at night, leading to more fat accumulation and higher blood sugar levels, although these ideas need further testing.

"Our findings add to a growing body of literature that suggests that eating late in the evening leads to adverse effects on metabolism and liver," the researchers said. This relationship is biologically plausible: higher calorie intake in the evening can lead to obesity and metabolic disorders due to reduced insulin sensitivity and reduced energy use at night.

Fatty liver dystrophy occurs when metabolic disorders (such as obesity) lead to fat accumulation in the liver. In some people, this can cause scarring, which can then lead to cirrhosis, in which the liver is irreversibly damaged and may eventually begin to fail. Knowing how these two conditions trigger or worsen will help in further prevention and treatment.

“We’ve learned time and time again that timing behaviors, whether they’re sleeping, eating, or exercising, really matter,” said Andrew McHill, a sleep and circadian rhythm physiologist.