Sugary Drinks Linked to Higher Stomach Cancer Risk in US Study

Researchers at Mass General Brigham Cancer Institute analyzed health data to assess the relationship between sugar-sweetened beverage consumption and the incidence of stomach cancer in a large US population.

The study used information from the Nurses’ Health Study and the Health Professionals Follow-Up Study, which together included more than 112,000 adult participants. The research focused on how often individuals consumed sugar-sweetened drinks and the occurrence of gastric cancer over time.

Findings indicated that people who drank at least one sugar-sweetened beverage per day had a substantially higher risk of developing gastric cancer compared to those who consumed these drinks less than once a month. Among women in the Nurses’ Health Study, the risk increase was even greater for those with daily consumption.

Researchers also found that higher overall intake of fructose, a type of sugar present in many sweetened drinks, was associated with a greater incidence of stomach cancer. In contrast, the data showed no link between artificially sweetened beverages and increased gastric cancer risk.

What the numbers show

• Over 112,000 participants were included in the analysis.
• Daily sugary drink consumers had about 2.45 times higher gastric cancer risk.
• Women with more than one sugary drink per day had a 3.04-fold higher risk.

This research is described as the first to identify an association between sugar-sweetened beverage intake and stomach cancer risk in a US-based population. The study adds to existing evidence on the potential health impacts of high sugar consumption from beverages.

Previous research by Mass General Brigham found that postmenopausal women who drank at least one sugar-sweetened beverage daily had a higher likelihood of developing liver cancer and an increased risk of death from chronic liver disease. These findings suggest that the effects of sugary drink consumption may extend to several types of cancer and chronic illnesses.

The analysis did not find any evidence that consuming beverages sweetened with artificial sweeteners increased the risk of gastric cancer. This distinction highlights differences in health outcomes depending on the type of sweetener used in drinks.

Ongoing research continues to examine the broader health effects of dietary sugar and beverage choices. The current findings contribute to a growing body of literature on the links between nutrition and cancer risk in adults.

* This article is based on publicly available information at the time of writing.