Scientists have issued a significant warning about a common sweetener found in many “sugar free” products after new research linked it to a deadly liver disease. According to the study, sorbitol, a sweetener used in chewing gum, diet drinks, sugar-free snacks and countless low-calorie products, may contribute to the development of metabolic dysfunction associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), the condition formerly known as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. The research suggests that consuming sorbitol can lead to a buildup of the substance in the liver when the gut microbiome is disrupted. Scientists say this buildup can cause dangerous fat accumulation in the liver, potentially triggering MASLD. The disease already affects up to one in five people in the UK, but experts warn the real figure may be as high as 40 percent, with the vast majority undiagnosed. The study, published in Science Signalling, examined the gut microbiome of zebrafish. Their gut microbiome, the ecosystem of beneficial bacteria responsible for digestion and food breakdown, plays a key role in preventing liver damage. Researchers found that when gut bacteria were depleted, the sorbitol produced naturally as the body processes glucose travelled directly to the liver, causing fatty liver disease even though the fish were eating a normal diet. Normally, bacteria break down sorbitol before it can reach the liver, preventing harm, but this protective mechanism collapses when the microbiome is weakened. #SweetenerDebate #ViralPost #ReadingCommunity #famoztrendz