Mass General Brigham study links sugary drinks to gastric cancer risk

A long-term study conducted by researchers at the Mass General Brigham Cancer Institute has found a significant link between the daily consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages and an increased risk of gastric cancer.

Analyzing data from 112,284 participants from the Nurses’ Health Study and the Health Professionals Follow-up Study, researchers observed that individuals consuming at least one serving of sugary drinks per day had a 2.45-fold higher risk of developing gastric cancer compared to those who consumed such beverages less than once a month. The risk was notably higher in women consuming more than one serving daily, reaching a 3.04-fold increase.

The study, published in the journal Gastro Hep Advances, included various beverages such as sodas, fruit punches, lemonades, and sports drinks. Notably, the researchers found no such association with artificially sweetened or ‘light’ beverages. Additionally, the study found no direct link between these beverages and infection from Helicobacter pylori, a common gastric cancer risk factor.

Senior author Andrew T. Chan noted that this is the first study to demonstrate this specific association within a U.S. population. While the findings suggest a correlation, researchers emphasized that this was an observational study and does not definitively prove a cause-and-effect relationship.