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Study: Fast-food diet harms liver, boosts good cholesterol

February 13, 2008

Agence France-Press: A monthlong diet of fast food and no exercise led to high levels of enzymes linked to liver damage, in a Swedish experiment inspired by the movie "Supersize Me." But investigators also found that the diet boosted good cholesterol.

Twelve men and six women in their twenties, all slim and in good health, ate two meals per day at fast-food restaurants over four weeks and refrained from exercising.

Levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), a potential marker for liver damage often seen among heavy drinkers and patients with hepatitis C, increased sharply after one week, and quadrupled on average over the entire period.

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