Scientists link excess salt to severe liver disease without obesity

Excess salt in the diet can contribute to the development of severe fatty liver disease, even without obesity. Scientists have discovered that large amounts of salt disrupt fat metabolism and trigger inflammation in the liver. The study results were published in the journal Molecular Metabolism (MM).

The researchers studied metabolically associated steatohepatitis (MASH), a progressive form of fatty liver disease accompanied by inflammation and fibrosis. The disease is usually associated with obesity, but it also occurs in people with normal body weight.

In the experiment, the researchers created a model of this disease in mice without obesity. A high-salt diet altered liver function: it increased the breakdown of fats and at the same time activated immune cells that cause inflammation.

As a result, the animals developed severe liver inflammation and fibrosis, despite relatively little fat accumulation and no obesity. According to the scientists, the mechanism was different from that observed in MASH associated with excess weight.

The discovery may help explain why severe fatty liver disease develops even in thin people. As MASH progresses, it can lead to cirrhosis, liver failure, and liver cancer.