Sugary Drinks and Stomach Cancer Risk

Research from Mass General Brigham suggests that consuming a sugary drink daily may significantly increase the risk of developing stomach cancer. The study found that adults who consumed one or more sugary drinks daily faced nearly triple the risk of gastric cancer compared to those who drank less than once a month.

According to CDC data, 63% of U.S. adults consume sugar-sweetened beverages at least once a day. Earlier research linked sugary drinks to liver, breast, and colorectal cancers, but their specific impact on gastric tissues was not clear until now.

Study Overview

The study analyzed data from over 100,000 participants in the Nurses’ Health Study and Health Professionals Follow-Up Study. These long-term studies, managed by Harvard-affiliated researchers, explored links between lifestyle, diet, and chronic disease.

Drinking at least one sugar-sweetened beverage each day was linked to a 2.45 times higher risk of developing gastric cancer compared to consuming fewer than one a month.

Impact on Young Adults

Senior author Andrew T. Chan noted concerns about increasing gastrointestinal cancers, particularly in people under 50. Chan emphasized the potential role of sugary drinks and ultraprocessed foods in these rising trends.

Gastric cancer is commonly associated with Helicobacter pylori, a bacterium living in the stomach lining. However, this study found no connection between sugary drink intake and H. pylori, suggesting that high fructose levels might contribute to increased cancer risk.

Gender-Specific Findings

Women consuming more than one sugary drink daily showed a more than threefold increase in gastric cancer rates. Sugary drinks include sodas, fruit punches, lemonade, and sports drinks, where fructose acts as the main sweetener. No association was observed with artificially sweetened beverages like diet sodas.

Study Limitations

The research was observational, indicating a correlation but not direct causation. Most study participants were White healthcare professionals, so findings should be confirmed across diverse populations.

We observed an association, but more research is necessary to understand if sugary drinks directly cause stomach cancer, Chan mentioned.

The findings appeared in the journal Gastro Hep Advances.