Daily consumption of sugary drinks may be associated with a significantly higher risk of stomach cancer, according to a new study.
The research, published in the journal Gastro Hep Advances, found that people who consumed at least one sugary drink every day had nearly twice the risk of developing stomach cancer compared with those who consumed such beverages less than once a month.
According to the study’s author, Andrew Chan, the research is among the first to examine a potential link between sugary drink consumption and stomach cancer.
The findings also suggested that artificially sweetened and low-calorie carbonated drinks were not associated with an increased risk of stomach cancer.
Researchers analysed health and lifestyle data from more than 112,000 people collected over several decades. During the study period, 278 participants developed stomach cancer, with cases reported among both men and women.
Previous research has linked sugary drinks with an increased risk of certain other cancers, including colorectal, breast and liver cancers. However, evidence regarding their association with stomach cancer has remained limited.
Chan noted that stomach cancer is the fifth-leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide, highlighting the importance of further research into potential dietary risk factors.
The researchers stressed that the findings show an association and do not by themselves establish that sugary drinks directly cause stomach cancer.
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