A study conducted by doctors at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Massachusetts showed that regularly consuming sugary drinks may increase the risk of developing stomach cancer.
The researchers followed 112,000 people for several decades, during which 278 developed stomach cancer. They found that regular consumption of soft drinks, sweetened beverages, and sports drinks nearly tripled the risk of developing the disease.
Researchers found that those who consumed at least one sugar-sweetened beverage daily were 2.45 times more likely to develop the disease than those who rarely consumed such beverages. This link was even more pronounced in women, whose risk was three times higher. High fructose intake is also associated with an increased risk of cancer.However, drinks sweetened with artificial sweeteners (such as diet sodas) did not show any association with an increased risk. The researchers also investigated whether Helicobacter pylori infection (which itself increases the risk of stomach cancer) influenced this association, but found no direct link.
The researchers emphasize that the study is observational and does not prove that sugary drinks specifically cause cancer. However, its findings suggest a possible link.
