Daily consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages may be linked to an increased risk of developing stomach cancer, according to a study led by researchers at Mass General Brigham.
The findings, published in the medical journal Gastro Hep Advances, were based on an analysis of health data from more than 112,000 people followed over several decades. During the monitoring period, 278 participants were diagnosed with stomach cancer.
After accounting for other known risk factors, the researchers found that individuals who drank at least one serving of a sugary beverage each day faced a 2.45 times higher risk of stomach cancer compared with those who drank such beverages less than once a month.
Mass General Brigham, an integrated academic healthcare system based in Boston, Massachusetts, is one of the largest biomedical research organizations in the United States. Gastro Hep Advances is a peer-reviewed scientific journal that focuses on clinical research in gastroenterology and hepatology. Stomach cancer, also called gastric cancer, develops when malignant cells form in the lining of the stomach wall.
The association was even more pronounced among women, according to the study. Female participants who consumed sugary drinks on a daily basis had more than three times the risk of developing stomach cancer compared to those who drank them less than once a month.
Researchers also identified a link between higher intake of fructose, which serves as the primary sweetener in many sugary drinks, and a greater probability of developing the disease. The study categorized carbonated sodas, lemonades, fruit drinks, and sugar-sweetened sports beverages as sugary drinks.
Fructose is a simple sugar found naturally in fruits and honey, but it is also widely used as a commercial sweetener in processed foods and soft drinks in the form of high-fructose corn syrup.
Bacterial testing and study limitations
In contrast to sugar-sweetened drinks, beverages containing artificial sweeteners were not associated with an increased risk of stomach cancer, the authors reported.
The research team also investigated whether the observed risk elevation could be explained by infection with Helicobacter pylori, one of the primary risk factors for stomach cancer. However, their analysis found no connection between the consumption of sugary drinks and infection with the bacterium.
Helicobacter pylori is a bacterium that infects the stomach lining, where it can cause long-term inflammation, ulcers, and tissue damage. It is widely recognized by medical authorities as a major risk factor for gastric malignancies.
The study authors emphasized that their work was observational in nature and does not prove that sugary drinks directly cause stomach cancer. Nevertheless, they noted that the statistical findings indicate a potential link between sugary beverage consumption and cancer risk.
The report also noted earlier research showing that high dietary fat intake by itself does not increase the risk of developing pancreatic cancer.
