According to a new study, adults with a history of cannabis use are less likely to suffer from non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) than those who have not used the substance.

The study focused on the association between cannabis and the disease in a nationally representative sample of over 22,000 adults. The international team of researchers from Stanford University and the Seoul National University College of Medicine in South Korea reported cannabis use independently predicted a lower risk of suspected NAFLD.

“Active marijuana use provided a protective effect against NAFLD independent of known metabolic risk factors,” the authors determined. “We conclude that marijuana use may favorably impact the pathogenesis of NAFLD in U.S. adults.”

In a similar study published in May, authors found cannabis users were 52 percent less likely to be diagnosed with NAFLD as compared to non-users. Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease is considered the most prevalent form of liver disease in humans, affecting an estimated 80 to 100 million people in the U.S.