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Health risks of sugary drinks and metabolic diseases

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2026-08-20 20:00 UTC → 2026-08-22 14:42 UTC · added ~~removed~~

Long‑term studies consistently link sugar‑sweetened beverages (SSBs) to hypertension, obesity, type‑2 diabetes, and various cancers. A 25‑year longitudinal study of >25,000 U.S. youths confirmed that consuming two or more daily servings of soda or sweetened juice from early adolescence increases adult hypertension risk by 52%, with arterial changes persisting into the mid‑30s. Research has expanded to highlight specific liver and cancer risks. High fructose intake, particularly from corn syrup and soda, is linked to doubled liver fat and metabolic‑dysfunction‑associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD). Large cohort studies of 1.5 million adults associate SSB consumption with increased risks of hepatocellular carcinoma and intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma, though artificial sweeteners show no such link. A study published in Gastro Hep Advances, ~~involving researchers from~~ led by Dr. Andrew T. Chan of the Mass General Brigham Cancer Institute, has further detailed gastric cancer risks. Analyzing data from over 112,000 participants in the Nurses' Health Study and the Health Professionals Follow-Up Study, researchers found that individuals consuming at least one serving (approximately 237 ml) of sugary beverages daily—including carbonated drinks, fruit juices, and sports drinks—had a 2.45 times higher risk of developing gastric cancer compared to non-consumers. This risk was more pronounced in women, where multiple daily servings increased the risk by up to three times. The study noted that artificially sweetened or diet drinks were not associated with a similar increased risk. While the correlation is strong, experts emphasize that as an observational study, it does not definitively prove cause-and-effect, though mechanisms such as insulin resistance, inflammation, and gut microbiota changes are being investigated. Global health concerns include the rising burden of liver disease and the impact of dietary habits. In Poland, experts have labeled sugary drinks “liquid death,” prompting proposals to expand sugar taxes to include confectionery and syrups to combat obesity.

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