Regular Consumption of Sugary Drinks May Increase Stomach Cancer Risk
Consumption of drinks containing added sugar has been linked to an increased risk of stomach cancer of nearly 2.5 times. The finding comes from research published in the journal Gastro Hep Advances.
The study has drawn attention because sugary drinks have more often been associated with health problems such as tooth decay. However, researchers found a link between consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages and the risk of stomach cancer.
“This is the first study to show a link between consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages and stomach cancer in a population in the United States,” said researcher and gastroenterologist and epidemiologist at the Mass General Brigham Cancer Institute, Dr Andrew Chan, as reported by US News on Monday (24/8/2026).
According to Chan, stomach cancer is the fifth leading cause of cancer death in the world. Nevertheless, relatively little is still known about how diet may contribute to the development of the cancer.
In the study, researchers analysed data from more than 112,000 health professionals who took part in two long-term research projects. Both studies collected detailed information on the participants’ diet, lifestyle and health conditions. The participants were then monitored for decades.
During the monitoring period, 278 participants were found to have developed stomach cancer. The analysis showed a difference in risk based on the level of consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages.
Participants who consumed at least one sugar-sweetened beverage every day had a risk of stomach cancer nearly 2.5 times higher than participants who consumed such drinks less than once a month. The types of drinks included in the sugar-sweetened beverage category in the study included lemonade, fizzy drinks and sports drinks.
In addition to overall consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages, researchers also found a link between higher fructose intake and an increased risk of stomach cancer. Fructose is the main sweetener found in sugar-sweetened beverages.
However, different findings were seen for drinks using artificial sweeteners. Researchers found no link between consumption of artificially sweetened beverages and an increased risk of stomach cancer.
The researchers have not yet definitively concluded the mechanism by which sugar-sweetened beverages are linked to an increased risk of stomach cancer. They suspect the link may be influenced by a number of underlying conditions.
“The increased risk of cancer may also be caused by weight gain, increased insulin resistance, hormonal imbalance and inflammation,” the researchers said.
Previously, a 2019 study found that sugary drinks increase the risk of premature death from non-communicable diseases such as heart attacks and some types of cancer. A study from the Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health last month analysed data from 37,000 men and 80,000 women over 30 years. They found that the more sugary drinks a person consumed, the greater their risk of premature death.