A pooled analysis of 11 prospective cohort studies found that higher consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages was associated with an increased risk of liver cancer, while no association was observed for artificially sweetened beverages.
If you regularly drink soda or other sugary beverages, a new study may give you a reason to cut back.
Researchers analyzed dietary data from more than 1.5 million adults across 11 long-term investigations. They wanted to find out whether drinking sugar-sweetened or artificially sweetened beverages was associated with liver cancer risk.
Participants filled out food frequency questionnaires and were followed through state cancer registries or health surveys for an average of nearly 18 years.
The results: Higher intake of sugar-sweetened beverages was associated with an increased risk of two major liver cancer subtypes: hepatocellular carcinoma, or HCC, and intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma, known as ICC.
In contrast, intake of artificially sweetened beverages was not associated with liver cancer overall or with either subtype.
While this study does not prove that sugary drinks cause liver cancer,
the authors say the findings add to growing evidence linking sugar-sweetened beverages to adverse long-term health outcomes.
Source: JAMA Network Open
Author Affiliations: National Cancer Institute, Yale University, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, American Cancer Society, National Institutes of Health Library, Boston University, Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center, Harvard T.H Chan School of Public Health, Harvard University, World Health Organization, University of Vienna
Copyright © 2026 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
Leave a Reply