It has long been known that sugary drinks are bad for us, yet this seemingly does not stop most people from consuming them—often on a daily basis. According to new research, this daily habit may significantly increase the risk of developing cancer.
In a study published in the journal Gastro Hep Advances, scientists found that individuals who consumed at least one sugar-sweetened beverage per day were approximately 2.45 times more likely to develop stomach cancer compared to those who never drank sugary beverages.
“This is the first study to demonstrate a link between sugar-sweetened beverage consumption and stomach cancer in the U.S. population,” says lead author Andrew T. Chan of Massachusetts General Hospital. “Stomach cancer is the fifth most common cause of cancer death worldwide, yet we know very little about how diet may contribute to the development of this disease.”
While the specific link between stomach cancer and sugary drinks had not previously been definitively established, the negative health impacts of sugary beverages are beyond doubt.
Existing data link the consumption of sugary drinks to more than 180,000 deaths annually worldwide, as well as to an increased risk of type 2 diabetes, obesity, and numerous other health issues.
They have also previously been linked to various cancers—including breast, liver, and colorectal cancer—as well as other forms of the disease.
Scientists had previously investigated the connection between sugar-sweetened beverages and stomach cancer, but results were inconclusive, possibly due to limited data. To include a broader range of participants, Chan’s team utilized data from two major studies—the Nurses’ Health Study and the Health Professionals Follow-up Study—which involved a combined total of over 112,000 individuals.
Throughout the studies, participants completed questionnaires every two years, reporting on their diets (including information on sugary beverages such as sodas, punch, lemonade, and sports drinks) as well as lifestyle factors, medical history, and health outcomes.
Between 1986 and 2022, 278 cases of stomach cancer were documented among the 112,284 study participants.
Overall, individuals who consumed at least one sugar-sweetened beverage per day (defined as a 237 ml serving) were more than twice as likely (2.45 times more likely) to develop stomach cancer compared to those who did not consume sugary drinks, after adjusting for potential confounding factors.
The risk was elevated in both men and women. Women who consumed at least one sugary drink daily faced approximately three times the risk of developing stomach cancer, while men faced roughly double the risk compared to non-consumers.
Despite significant concerns regarding the impact of artificial sweeteners on human health—and widespread speculation about their potential carcinogenicity—researchers found no link between the consumption of artificially sweetened beverages and the incidence of stomach cancer.
Of course, an observational study of this nature can only identify correlations within the data and does not prove a cause-and-effect relationship. In other words, we cannot conclude that the consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages directly caused the development of stomach cancer in these individuals, as other factors could have contributed to the disease’s onset.
Other study limitations include limited information regarding Helicobacter pylori infection—a type of bacteria that affects the stomach and is a known risk factor for stomach cancer—as well as a lack of complete data on the health status and family history of some participants regarding stomach cancer.
While the potential impact of sugary drinks on the development of stomach cancer was beyond the scope of this study, the researchers believe this aspect warrants further investigation.
“Several potential mechanisms have been proposed, including weight gain, insulin resistance, steroid hormone imbalance, inflammation, DNA damage, and dysbiosis,” the study authors explain. “However, the precise mechanism underlying the carcinogenic effect of sugar-sweetened beverages has not yet been elucidated. Further research is needed to confirm these findings.”
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