Daily sugary drink linked to more than double risk of stomach cancer
A new long-term study finds that consuming at least one sugar-sweetened beverage each day more than doubles the chance of developing gastric cancer, while artificially sweetened drinks show no such link.
In a decades-spanning investigation, Mass General Brigham examined dietary and health records of more than 100,000 participants from the Nurses’ Health Study and Health Professionals Follow-up Study, identifying 278 stomach cancer cases. The analysis revealed that individuals who consumed at least one sugar-sweetened drink per day had a 2.45 times greater risk of gastric cancer than those who drank less than one per month, while artificially sweetened drinks showed no association.
Researchers accounted for numerous confounding variables, yet the link persisted, especially among women, whose risk rose to over threefold. Potential explanations include weight gain, insulin resistance, inflammation, DNA damage and alterations in gut microbes, though the exact cause remains uncertain. The study’s observational nature and limited diversity of participants were noted as constraints. Public health officials continue to advise reducing sugary drink intake to curb added-sugar consumption and related health issues.
