Sugar-sweetened beverages linked to increased gastric cancer risk

A study involving over 112,000 participants from the Nurses’ Health Study and the Health Professionals Follow Up Study has linked daily consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages to an increased risk of gastric cancer. Findings published in Gastro Hep Advances indicate that individuals consuming more than one 240 ml serving of sugar-sweetened beverages per day face a 2.45 times higher risk of developing gastric adenocarcinoma compared to those who consume such drinks less than once a month.

The research highlighted gender differences in risk levels: women consuming at least one sugar-sweetened beverage daily faced approximately three times the risk, while men faced approximately twice the risk. The category of beverages studied included sodas, lemonades, punches, and sports drinks. Notably, the study found that artificially sweetened beverages were not associated with an increased risk of gastric cancer.