Sugar-Sweetened Beverages Linked to Stomach Cancer For The First Time
Here’s what you need to know.
Researchers have discovered a connection between daily consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages and increased risk of stomach cancer, marking the first time such an association has been documented in the U.S. population. A new study published in Gastro Hep Advances examined data from over 112,000 participants tracked between 1986 and 2022, finding that individuals who drank at least one sugary beverage daily were approximately 2.45 times more likely to develop gastric cancer compared to those who abstained from such drinks.
The heightened risk appeared across both genders, though women showed a somewhat elevated susceptibility with roughly triple the risk, while men demonstrated approximately double the risk. Among the study participants, 278 cases of gastric cancer were documented during the research period. These findings add to mounting evidence about the harmful effects of sugar-sweetened beverages, which have been previously linked to numerous health conditions including obesity, type 2 diabetes, and other cancer forms.
Researchers caution that while their observational study demonstrates a correlation between sugary drink consumption and gastric cancer development, it cannot definitively prove causation. The study had certain limitations, including incomplete data regarding Helicobacter pylori infection, a known stomach cancer risk factor. Scientists propose that potential mechanisms behind this association may include weight gain, insulin resistance, inflammation, and DNA damage, though further investigation is needed to confirm these pathways and validate the current findings.
Originally reported by Sciencealert →
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