Study Links Daily Sugary Drink Intake to Increased Stomach Cancer Risk
A new American study involving over 112,000 men and women tracked for decades has found a significant association between high consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages and an increased risk of stomach cancer. The research, published in Gastro Hep Advances, included sugary sodas, sweetened fruit drinks, lemonade, and isotonic sports drinks, but found no similar risk linked to diet sodas. Participants were grouped by their intake frequency, ranging from less than one serving per month to more than one serving per day, with each serving approximately 237 ml.
The study identified 278 stomach cancer cases during the follow-up period, with women showing a higher relative risk increase (3.04 times) compared to men (1.99 times). The risk was notably elevated only among those consuming more than one sugary drink daily. Statistical analysis revealed that each additional sugary drink per week raised stomach cancer risk by 6%. Researchers controlled for various confounding factors including age, BMI, smoking, alcohol use, physical activity, diabetes, calorie intake, diet quality, red and processed meat consumption, and medication use.
Dr. Andrew T. Chan, a gastroenterologist and epidemiologist at Mass General Brigham Cancer Institute and lead author, stated this is the first study to demonstrate a link between sugary drink consumption and stomach cancer in a U.S. population. The biological mechanism may involve chronic insulin elevation from high sugar intake, fostering an environment conducive to cancer development. Professor Gil Bar Sela of Emek Medical Center noted the findings add to growing evidence on the health harms of sugary drinks and emphasized lifestyle and dietary differences might also play a role.
The study also examined fructose intake, a primary sweetener in these beverages, finding a similar association with stomach cancer risk in women but not men. Helicobacter pylori infection, a known stomach cancer risk factor, was tested in a subset of participants but showed no correlation with sugary drink consumption. Importantly, diet sodas were not linked to increased cancer risk, although the study did not assess all artificial sweeteners or other cancer types.
While the research is observational and cannot prove causation, and despite limitations such as a predominantly white, health professional cohort and limited data on some risk factors, it reinforces public health recommendations to reduce sugary drink intake. Professor Bar Sela advised moderation and prioritizing water to lower risks of obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and certain cancers, including stomach cancer.
