Sugar-Sweetened Beverages Daily Can Lead to Higher Stomach Cancer Risk

A new study from the Mass General Brigham Cancer Institute suggests that daily consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages may increase the risk of developing stomach cancer. The research, published in Gastro Hep Advances, analyzed data from 112,284 U.S. adults participating in the Nurses’ Health Study and Health Professionals Follow-Up Study.

Over a lengthy follow-up period, 278 individuals developed gastric cancer. The study found that participants who drank at least one sugar-sweetened beverage daily had a 2.45 times higher risk of stomach cancer compared to those who consumed less than one serving per month. This association was seen in both men and women. Additionally, higher overall fructose intake, found in these sugary drinks, was linked to an increased incidence of gastric cancer.

Women in the Nurses’ Health Study who consumed more than one sugar-sweetened beverage per day had a 3.04 times higher risk compared to those who rarely drank them. However, the study did not find a link between artificially sweetened beverages and stomach cancer risk. While Helicobacter pylori infection is a known risk factor for gastric cancer, the researchers found no association between sugar-sweetened beverage consumption and H. pylori infection.

Limitations include the study's observational nature and the predominantly white participant group, which hinders the assessment of racial and ethnic differences. Further research is needed to confirm these findings and explore the mechanisms behind the potential link between sugar-sweetened beverages and stomach cancer.