Late-night eating linked to higher reported risks of cirrhosis and MASLD

Following 199,155 people for a median of sixteen years

According to ScienceAlert, researchers analyzed food and lifestyle questionnaire data from 199,155 people with a median age of 59 and a median follow-up of 16 years. Late-night eating was defined as eating after bedtime or between dinner and bedtime. The reported association persisted after adjustments, though the analysis did not measure sleep timing or sleep quality. Cirrhosis was uncommon in the cohort, with 315 cases.

The report does not provide a before-to-now population comparison. It compares participants who reported late-night eating with those reporting more standard eating times.

The reported analysis found associations of 28% higher cirrhosis risk and 36% higher MASLD risk among late-night eaters after adjustments for factors including age, BMI, and physical activity. It does not establish that eating late causes either condition.

The findings focus on when people eat rather than what they eat, while leaving open whether late-night eating itself, sleep-related factors, or other unmeasured influences explain the association. The researchers say further research, including more direct measures of liver health, is needed.