Sugar Soda Habit: Devastating health link emerged after 36 years of research

A large prospective cohort analysis published in Gastro Hep Advances reports that daily consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages is associated with a 2.45-fold higher risk of stomach cancer compared with little or no consumption. The study, led by Andrew T. Chan of Massachusetts General Hospital, pooled data from the Nurses' Health Study and the Health Professionals Follow-up Study, encompassing 112,284 participants followed for 36 years (1986–2022). During that period, 278 incident stomach cancer cases were documented. Study design and population Participants completed repeated food-frequency questionnaires and provided lifestyle and medical-history updates. A serving was defined as 237 ml (8 oz) of a sugar-sweetened soda, punch, lemonade or sports drink. The primary comparison was between participants who consumed at least one serving per day and those who consumed less than one serving per month. Key findings The adjusted hazard ratio for stomach cancer in the daily-consumption group was 2.45 (95% confidence interval not supplied in the source). The association was stronger in women (approximately threefold) than in men (approximately twofold). The authors did not provide a definitive explanation for the sex difference, noting that hormonal and metabolic factors warrant further study.