A major new study from Sweden shows that close family members of people with fatty liver disease are also at higher risk of developing serious liver problems—including liver cancer—and may benefit from making lifestyle changes early on.
Fatty liver disease, now called metabolic-associated fatty liver disease or MASLD (formerly NAFLD), is becoming one of the most common liver conditions in the world.
It happens when too much fat builds up in the liver, often due to obesity, type 2 diabetes, and other metabolic issues. Over time, MASLD can lead to liver damage, liver cancer, or even liver failure.
Doctors already know that people with MASLD are at a higher risk of liver cancer and liver-related death. But until now, it hasn’t been clear whether their families face the same dangers.
Researchers from Karolinska Institutet in Sweden looked into this question using a large national database. They examined data from the ESPRESSO cohort, which includes all liver biopsies taken in Sweden since 1965.
They found nearly 12,000 people who had MASLD confirmed by a liver biopsy. Each of these people was compared to up to five individuals from the general population who did not have the disease.
Then, the scientists tracked the health of nearly 250,000 close family members—parents, children, and siblings—as well as 57,000 partners of both the patients and the healthy comparison group. People in the study were followed for an average of 17.6 years, with some tracked for as long as 50 years.
The results were striking. Family members of people with MASLD were found to have an 80% higher risk of developing liver cancer than family members of those without the disease.
That may sound alarming, but because liver cancer is still relatively rare, the actual number of new cases was small. Over a 20-year period, this meant that one extra person out of every 900 family members developed liver cancer.
Still, researchers say this is a significant risk at the population level, especially considering how common MASLD has become.
Interestingly, not only biological relatives but also partners had a higher risk of serious liver disease. This shows that shared lifestyle habits—such as eating patterns, alcohol use, and physical activity—play a big role. People living together often share routines, and these habits can affect liver health over time.
The scientists say that their findings show the need to offer more support not just to people with MASLD, but also to their families. Currently, only the patients are advised to change their diet, lose weight, or exercise more.
But this study suggests that their family members might benefit from the same guidance—especially if they have other health risks like diabetes or obesity.
The researchers also believe that early screening of relatives with metabolic risk factors could help catch liver problems before they become severe.
In reviewing the study, the strongest point is the use of long-term data from a large population, which gives reliable results.
The study clearly shows that fatty liver disease isn’t just a personal issue—it can be a family-wide concern. By paying attention to family members’ health and encouraging healthy habits at home, more liver problems could be prevented.
The study was published in the Journal of Hepatology and adds to growing awareness that fighting fatty liver disease requires a broader approach that includes families and communities.
If you care about liver health, please read studies about simple habit that could give you a healthy liver, and common diabetes drug that may reverse liver inflammation.
For more information about health, please see recent studies about simple blood test that could detect your risk of fatty liver disease, and results showing this green diet may strongly lower non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.
The study is published in the Journal of Hepatology.
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