Scientists Link Higher Liver Disease Risk to One Common Late

Key Points:

• A study by Oregon Health & Science University involving nearly 200,000 adults found that eating late at night is associated with a 20 to 30 percent higher risk of liver disease, including fatty liver disease and cirrhosis.
• The research suggests that the timing of food intake, not just food choices or portion sizes, impacts liver health due to the liver's alignment with the body's circadian rhythms.
• Researchers believe eating close to bedtime may disrupt normal metabolic processes as the body prepares for sleep, potentially contributing to liver dysfunction.
• While the study is observational and cannot prove causation, it highlights the potential benefits of restricting calorie intake to several hours before bedtime to support liver health.
• OHSU is conducting a clinical trial to test whether earlier eating times can improve fatty liver disease markers, emphasizing the importance of timing in behaviors like eating, sleeping, and exercising.