People who consume sugar-sweetened drinks every day may have an increased risk of developing a type of liver disease, a new study suggests.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) refers to an accumulation of fat in the liver of people who consume little or no alcohol. While many people affected experience no symptoms or complications, others can suffer inflammation and scarring of the liver.

People with NAFLD also have an increased risk of developing heart disease and type 2 diabetes, and at its most severe, liver failure can occur.

US researchers set out to assess the impact of sugary drinks on the disease. They looked at the intake of sugar-sweetened drinks in over 2,600 middle-aged men and women. The drinks included both caffeinated and caffeine-free colas, other sugary fizzy drinks and non-fizzy fruit drinks.

All of the participants underwent a CT scan to measure the amount of fat in their liver.

The study found that people who consumed more than one sugar-sweetened drink per day were more likely to have NAFLD than those who did not consume these types of drinks.

The results stood even when other factors were taken into account, such as age, body mass index (BMI), calorie intake and alcohol intake.

However, the researchers did note that diet cola did not appear to increase the risk of NAFLD.

"Our study adds to a growing body of research suggesting that sugar-sweetened beverages may be linked to NAFLD and other chronic diseases including diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Few observational studies, to date, have examined the relationship between sugar-sweetened beverages and NAFLD," the researchers commented.

They called for more research in this area and reminded consumers that sugary drinks are a source of ‘empty calories'.

"People need to be mindful of how much they are drinking, perhaps by reserving this habit for special occasions," they said.

Details of these findings are published in the Journal of Hepatology.