New Study Links Sugary Drinks to Increased Risk of Stomach Cancer
Consuming just one sugary drink a day could significantly raise the risk of developing stomach cancer, according to recent research from Mass General Brigham. After examining various factors, the study revealed that having one or more sugary beverages daily is nearly three times more likely to put individuals at risk for gastric cancer than having less than one serving per month.
Data from the CDC indicates that approximately 63% of adults in the United States consume sugar-sweetened drinks at least once each day. Earlier research had already suggested a connection between sugary beverages and higher rates of other cancers, such as liver, breast, and colorectal cancer, but the specific link to stomach cancer was less clear until this study.
The findings are based on a large analysis of data involving over 100,000 participants from the Nurses’ Health Study and the Health Professionals Follow-Up Study. These long-term studies, conducted by researchers affiliated with Harvard, explored the relationship between lifestyle choices, dietary habits, and chronic diseases among healthcare workers.
Senior author Andrew T. Chan, a gastroenterologist and epidemiologist at Mass General Brigham Cancer Institute in Boston, expressed concern about the growing number of gastrointestinal cancers, especially in younger individuals under 50. He noted that the increasing consumption of sugary drinks and highly processed foods might be contributing to these cancer trends.
Gastric cancer has a strong association with the Helicobacter pylori bacteria, which resides in the stomach lining. Interestingly, in some participants of the study, no direct link was found between sugary drink consumption and H. pylori, suggesting that high sugar intake, particularly fructose, could be a factor.
The research identified sugar-sweetened drinks as regular sodas, fruit punches, lemonade, and sports drinks—all of which predominantly use fructose as a sweetener. A higher intake of fructose was consistently linked to an increased risk of stomach cancer.
On the other hand, drinks sweetened with artificial sugars, including diet sodas, did not show any connection to a higher risk of gastric cancer among the studied group.
However, it’s important to note that this study was observational, which means it can indicate a relationship but not confirm a direct cause-and-effect scenario. The participants were mainly White healthcare professionals, so the researchers emphasized the need for further studies involving a more diverse population.
Chan concluded that while the study indicates an association between sugary drinks and stomach cancer, more research is necessary to fully understand the nature of this relationship. The study has been published in the journal Gastro Hep Advances.
