Daily sugary drink intake may triple stomach cancer risk, study suggests
Researchers found that drinking at least one sugary beverage each day is linked to almost three times higher odds of gastric cancer compared with rare consumption.
A large prospective cohort investigation involving more than 100,000 U.S. health professionals reported that consuming one or more sugar-sweetened drinks per day was associated with nearly a threefold increase in gastric cancer risk versus drinking less than one serving per month. The study, conducted by Harvard-affiliated researchers and published in Gastro Hep Advances, accounted for multiple confounding variables and found no similar risk elevation for diet sodas or other low-calorie drinks.
In a subset analysis, the association remained even when Helicobacter pylori status was considered, suggesting that fructose may play a direct role in stomach tumor development. About 63% of U.S. adults reportedly drink sugary beverages daily, according to CDC data. Senior author Andrew T. Chan warned that the observational design cannot prove cause and effect and called for additional research across broader populations. The findings add to earlier work linking sugary drinks to liver, breast, and colorectal cancers, highlighting a potential new dietary risk factor for gastrointestinal malignancies.
Why it matters
It highlights a common dietary habit that could dramatically raise stomach cancer risk, informing public health guidance.
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