The consumption of sugary drinks, like sweetened beverages and fruit juices, is on the rise. Besides increasing the risk of obesity, diabetes, and hypertension, the excess consumption of sugary drinks has also been linked to the risk of cancer. The objective of this study is to evaluate the association between the consumption of sugary beverages and the risk of cancer.
This is a population-based prospective cohort study that included a total of 101,257 participants aged 18 and more. 24-hour dietary records were used to assess the consumption of sugary drinks and artificially sweetened beverages. The median follow-up time was 5.1 years, and the primary outcome of the study was the associated risk of overall, breast, colorectal, and prostate cancer.
Out of the participants who consumed sugary drinks, 2,193 were diagnosed with overall cancer and 693 with breast cancer. The consumption of artificially sweetened beverages was not associated with an increased risk of cancer. Specific subanalysis also suggested that 100% fruit juice was significantly associated with the risk of overall cancer.
The research concluded that the consumption of sugary drinks was positively associated with a higher risk of overall cancer and breast cancer. The findings also suggested that the consumption of artificially sweetened beverages did not increase the risk of cancer.
Ref: https://www.bmj.com/content/366/bmj.l2408
