{
  "id": 10544016,
  "title": "High-salt diet may drive fatty liver disease differently in lean people",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/28/high-salt-diet-may-drive-fatty-liver-disease-differently-in-lean",
  "topic": "science",
  "section": "Science",
  "published": "2026-09-28T22:00:10.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Medical Xpress",
    "slug": "medical-xpress",
    "url": "https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-09-high-salt-diet-fatty-liver.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Fatty liver disease, often linked to obesity, now appears to present differently in lean individuals. Scientists at Duke-NUS Medical School have discovered that excessive salt intake can trigger lean metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH), a severe liver condition. This condition, prevalent in Asian populations, is marked by liver inflammation and tissue scarring, potentially leading to life-threatening complications. The researchers developed a mouse model that reflects lean MASH, revealing that high dietary salt alters liver metabolism and activates immune cells, causing inflammation. These findings could explain why treatments for obesity-related MASH are less effective in lean patients, suggesting a need for tailored diagnostic and treatment approaches.",
  "summary": "Fatty liver disease is commonly associated with obesity, yet a growing number of people with normal body weight develop a severe form of the condition. Scientists at Duke-NUS Medical School have identified a distinct mechanism in a mouse model that may help explain why: Excess dietary salt can alter liver metabolism and trigger inflammatory pathways associated with lean metabolic…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}