People who drink sugary beverages every day appear to face more than double the risk of developing stomach cancer, according to a large American study published in Gastro Hep Advances.

As the new scientific data show, daily consumption of sugary drinks is linked to a significantly higher risk of stomach cancer.

Specifically, researchers from the Mass General Brigham Cancer Institute found that people who consumed at least one sugary drink a day had more than twice the risk of developing stomach cancer compared with those who consumed them less than once a month.

By contrast, drinks with artificial sweeteners were not associated with increased risk. The findings add stomach cancer to the list of cancers that have been examined in relation to frequent consumption of sugary drinks.

More Than Double the Risk for Daily Consumers

The researchers analyzed data from 112,284 participants in two large American studies: the Nurses’ Health Study and the Health Professionals Follow-Up Study.

These studies have gathered detailed information on participants’ diet, lifestyle and health for decades. During the follow-up period, 278 people were diagnosed with stomach cancer.

After accounting for other risk factors, those who consumed at least one sugary drink per day had a 2.45 times higher risk of developing stomach cancer than those who consumed less than one serving per month.

This association was observed in both men and women. In fact, among the women in the Nurses’ Health Study, drinking more than one sugary drink a day was associated with a 3.04 times higher risk.

Higher total intake of fructose, one of the main sugars in these beverages, was also linked to a higher incidence of stomach cancer.

Which Drinks Were Included in the Study

The sugary drinks examined included carbonated soft drinks, fruit juices, lemonades and sports drinks. Low-calorie carbonated drinks with artificial sweeteners were evaluated separately.

Notably, after accounting for other factors, no significant association was found between drinks with artificial sweeteners and the incidence of stomach cancer.

This distinction is considered important, as previous research has linked sugary drinks to an increased risk of various forms of cancer, such as colorectal, breast and liver cancer, while data on stomach cancer had been limited until now.

The Role of H. pylori and the Study’s Limitations

Helicobacter pylori infection is a known risk factor for stomach cancer. The researchers checked for the infection in a subgroup of 940 people and found that more than one third showed signs of infection.

However, there was no association between sugary drink consumption and a greater likelihood of infection. If the link between sugary drinks and stomach cancer is confirmed, it may be due to mechanisms different from those involving H. pylori.

The scientists stress that the findings show an association, not a causal relationship. The study was observational, so it cannot prove that sugary drinks directly cause stomach cancer.

There were also limitations, such as incomplete information on H. pylori and family history of stomach cancer, while most participants were white. Still, the large number of participants and the extensive data strengthen the reliability of the results.

According to lead author Dr. Andrew T. Chan, this is the first study to identify an association between sugary drinks and stomach cancer in an American population.

Given that stomach cancer remains one of the deadliest cancers worldwide, the researchers believe the role of diet needs further investigation. More studies are needed to confirm the association and to better understand the biological mechanisms that may explain the link between frequent consumption of sugary drinks and an increased risk of stomach cancer.