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Sugar-Sweetened Beverages Linked to Stomach Cancer For The First Time
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A new study has found that consuming at least one sugar-sweetened beverage daily is associated with a 2.45 times higher risk of developing stomach cancer, marking the first time such a link has been demonstrated in a U.S. population. The research, published in Gastro Hep Advances, adds to growing evidence of the harmful health effects of sugary drinks. The findings come as many Americans continue to consume these beverages on a regular basis.
Sugary drinks have long been tied to obesity, type 2 diabetes, and various cancers, including breast, liver, and colorectal cancer. However, evidence specifically connecting them to gastric cancer had been inconclusive due to limited data. The new analysis sought to clarify this relationship by drawing on large, long-term datasets.
The research team, led by gastroenterologist Andrew T. Chan of Massachusetts General Hospital, examined data from the Nurses' Health Study and the Health Professionals Follow-Up Study. The analysis tracked 112,284 participants from 1986 to 2022, during which 278 cases of gastric cancer were documented. Participants reported their dietary intake every two years, including sugary drinks such as carbonated beverages, punch, lemonade, and sports drinks.
After adjusting for confounding risk factors, people who drank at least one 8-ounce serving of a sugary beverage per day were 2.45 times more likely to develop gastric cancer than non-consumers. The risk was higher among women, who had roughly a three-fold increase, while men faced about a two-fold increase. Notably, artificially sweetened beverages showed no such association.
Gastric cancer is the fifth leading cause of cancer death worldwide, yet little is known about dietary contributions to this disease. Chan highlighted the novelty of the findings, saying, "This is the first study to demonstrate an association between sugar-sweetened beverage intake and gastric cancer in a US population." He added that "we've known very little about how diet might contribute to this cancer."
The study is observational, meaning it can only show correlation, not causation. Other factors, such as Helicobacter pylori infectionâa known risk factor for gastric cancerâwere not fully accounted for due to limited information. The authors also lacked complete medical and family histories for some participants, which could influence the results.
The exact biological mechanism by which sugary drinks might promote gastric cancer remains unclear and was beyond the scope of this study. Researchers call for further investigation to explore this pathway and to confirm the findings in other populations. Meanwhile, the study reinforces public health recommendations to limit consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages.
