Researchers Find Daily Sugary Drink Consumption Increases Gastric Cancer Risk
Researchers at the Mass General Brigham Cancer Institute have discovered a connection between the daily consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages and an increased risk of gastric cancer. Their study, analyzing data from 112,284 participants in two long-term U.S. health studies—Nurses' Health Study and Health Professionals Follow-Up Study—found that those who drank at least one sugary beverage per day were 2.45 times more likely to develop gastric cancer as compared to individuals who consumed less than one serving per month.
During the follow-up period, which spanned several decades, 278 participants developed gastric cancer. According to Andrew T. Chan, a senior author of the study, the analysis is the first to identify this association within a U.S. population. Gastric cancer ranks as the fifth leading cause of cancer death worldwide, yet the dietary contributions to this form of cancer have been understudied.
The study defined sugar-sweetened beverages to include carbonated drinks, punch, lemonade, and sports drinks. Notably, higher total fructose intake, which is prevalent in these types of beverages, correlated with greater risks, especially among women in the Nurses' Health Study. In contrast, the consumption of artificially sweetened beverages did not show an increased risk of gastric cancer.
The researchers accounted for various potential risk factors and noted that the observed associations applied to both genders. The study also considered the potential impact of Helicobacter pylori infection, known to affect gastric cancer risk. Among 940 participants, no direct link was found between sugar-sweetened beverage consumption and H. pylori infection.
Despite the significant findings, researchers acknowledged limitations due to the study's observational nature and the predominantly white demographic of the participants. Furthermore, limited data on family history and H. pylori status were available. While these preliminary findings are significant, researchers emphasized the need for further studies to verify results and understand the underlying mechanisms driving this increased cancer risk.
