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Late-Night Snacking Linked to Higher Liver Disease Risk
Confirmed
In Short: A new study published in Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology links late-night snacking to a significantly higher risk of liver disease.
A new study published in Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology links late-night snacking to a significantly higher risk of liver disease. Researchers from Oregon Health & Science University and Massachusetts General Hospital analyzed data from nearly 200,000 participants and found that late-night eaters were 36 percent more likely to develop metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) and 28 percent more likely to develop cirrhosis.
The study, which followed participants over a long period, defined late-night eating as consuming food after bedtime or between dinner and bedtime. Among those who reported late-night eating, the risk of all forms of liver disease increased by 20 to 30 percent compared to those who did not eat late.
Lead author Dr. Robert Wilechansky, a hepatologist at Oregon Health & Science University, noted that the liver is closely connected to the body’s circadian rhythms. 'Night shift workers grapple with misalignment of the body’s natural day-night cycle, with elevated rates of obesity and heart disease,' he said.
The study highlights the importance of meal timing in liver health. 'So we’re interested in changing the timing of eating in a way that could make a difference in health without changing the composition of what people eat,' said Dr. Andrew McHill, an associate professor at Oregon Health and Science University who specializes in sleep and circadian physiology.
MASLD, formerly known as nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), often has no symptoms but can result in fatigue, malaise, or pain or discomfort in the upper right belly area. A severe form of the disease, called metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis, can cause liver swelling and damage.
The research suggests that eating late at night disrupts the body’s ability to metabolize food efficiently, potentially leading to obesity, diabetes, and poor liver health. 'For example, we have shown that eating during the night, when the internal biological clock is promoting sleep, reduces the ability of your body to metabolize foods as efficiently and can eventually lead to obesity, diabetes and now poor liver health,' said Dr. McHill.
The study’s findings could have significant implications for nutrition and liver health. 'Confirmation of these results would have the potential to impact best practices in nutrition for chronic liver disease,' said Dr. Wilechansky. Researchers are now investigating whether changes in eating patterns can reduce the risk of liver disease.
While the study does not prove causation, it does establish a strong correlation between late-night eating and liver disease. 'Knowledge is scarce on the long-term associations between meal timing and MASLD,' said Dr. Wilechansky, noting that much of the existing evidence comes from animal studies or short-term clinical trials.
While previous research has shown that snacking before bed can lead to weight gain, late-night snacking can also directly — and negatively — impact liver health, according to a new study, Published in Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology, a peer-reviewed medical journal associated with the American Gastroenterological Association, on Saturday, Oct. 10, the new research links late-night eating to a significantly higher risk of liver disease.
What this adds
The study analyzed data from nearly 200,000 individuals, with a median age of 59, and found that late-night eating was associated with a significantly higher risk of liver disease.
The research adds to the growing body of evidence linking meal timing to health outcomes, particularly liver health.
Federal data show that chronic liver disease causes more than 52,000 deaths in the United States each year, highlighting the importance of understanding risk factors.
What's confirmed
- Reaching for a snack before bed may seem harmless enough, but new research suggests it could be putting your liver health at risk.
- “So we’re interested in changing the timing of eating in a way that could make a difference in health without changing the composition of what people eat.” Researchers analyzed data from more than 199,000 participants in three long-running U.S.
- While previous research has shown that snacking before bed can lead to weight gain, late-night snacking can also directly — and negatively — impact liver health, according to a new study, Published in Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology, a peer-reviewed medical journal associated with the American Gastroenterological Association, on Saturday, Oct. 10, the new research links late-night eating to a significantly higher risk of liver disease.
- Among people who reported late-night eating, the study found a 20% to 30% increase in all forms of liver disease compared to those who did not eat late at night.
- Fatty liver disease occurs when too much fat builds up in the liver.
- “We are seeing over and over again that the timing of behaviors, whether it’s sleep, eating, or exercise, really matters,” said Dr. Andrew McHill, a sleep and circadian physiologist at Oregon Health & Science University.
- "A few studies have hinted at this idea, but this is among the first long-term analyses to explicitly draw the connection to fatty liver disease," said lead author Robert Wilechansky, M.D., a hepatologist at OHSU who specializes in liver transplantation.
What's still developing
- That late-night snack might have consequences beyond extra calories.
- Previous experiments involving animals have also identified the liver as one of the organs especially vulnerable to disruptions in the normal relationship between eating and sleeping.
- "This relationship is biologically plausible; higher evening caloric intake may lead to obesity and metabolic derangement via decreased insulin sensitivity and lower energy utilization at night."
- Federal data show that chronic liver disease causes more than 52,000 deaths in the United States each year.