A major study has found that consuming one or more sugary drinks daily is associated with nearly triple the risk of developing stomach cancer compared to drinking fewer than one serving per month. The research, published in Gastro Hep Advances, analyzed data from over 100,000 participants in the Nurses' Health Study and Health Professionals Follow-Up Study, both long-term cohort studies tracking diet, lifestyle, and chronic disease among healthcare workers.
Key Findings
The study, led by researchers at Mass General Brigham, found that daily consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages was linked to a 2.2 to 3 times higher risk of gastric cancer. This association held even after accounting for other risk factors such as smoking, alcohol use, and infection with Helicobacter pylori, a bacterium strongly linked to stomach cancer. In a subset of participants, no connection was found between sugary drink intake and H. pylori infection, suggesting that sugar itself may play a direct role in cancer development.
Study Scope and Limitations
The research focused on U.S. adults and is the first to demonstrate a link between sugar-sweetened beverages and gastric cancer in this population. While previous studies have connected sugary drinks to higher rates of liver, breast, and colorectal cancers, evidence on stomach cancer has been limited until now. The study did not find a similar risk increase with artificially sweetened beverages, though researchers noted that further investigation is needed to confirm this observation.
Expert Perspective
Senior author Dr. Andrew T. Chan, a gastroenterologist and epidemiologist at Mass General Brigham Cancer Institute, emphasized the broader implications of the findings. "We are seeing an increase in cancers of the gastrointestinal tract, particularly in young people under 50," he said. "Our increasing consumption of sugary drinks and ultra-processed foods is likely contributing to these trends." Chan added that the study’s findings underscore the need for further research into dietary factors and cancer risk.
Public Health Context
Gastric cancer remains the fifth leading cause of cancer death worldwide, with diet and lifestyle factors increasingly recognized as potential contributors. The study’s authors suggest that reducing sugar-sweetened beverage consumption could be a modifiable risk factor for lowering stomach cancer incidence. However, they caution that more research is needed to establish causality and to explore the biological mechanisms behind the observed link.
Prevalence of Sugary Drink Consumption
According to CDC data, roughly 63% of U.S. adults report consuming at least one sugar-sweetened beverage per day. The study’s findings highlight the potential public health impact of reducing intake, given the widespread consumption of these drinks.
Broader Dietary Concerns
The study’s authors also noted that ultra-processed foods, which often contain high levels of added sugars, may contribute to rising gastrointestinal cancer rates. While the study focused on sugary drinks, it aligns with broader concerns about the health impacts of processed foods and beverages.
Next Steps
The researchers plan to continue investigating the relationship between diet and stomach cancer, including the potential role of specific sugars like fructose. They also aim to explore whether reducing sugary drink consumption could lead to measurable reductions in cancer risk over time.