Most Americans drink at least one soda a day. It's associated with this type of cancer

Key Points:

• A study published in Gastro Hep Advances found that consuming at least one sugar-sweetened beverage daily is linked to more than double the risk of developing gastric cancer compared to rarely consuming them, based on data from over 100,000 people.
• Sugar-sweetened beverages in the study included regular soda, energy drinks, and juices with added sugars, with 63% of U.S. adults reportedly consuming these drinks daily.
• Artificially sweetened beverages, such as diet sodas, were not associated with an increased risk of gastric cancer, though concerns remain about certain artificial sweeteners like aspartame.
• The study had limitations, including a predominantly White participant group aged 30 to 75 and limited health and family history data, restricting analysis across diverse populations and younger adults.
• Researchers call for further studies to understand the biological mechanisms linking sugar-sweetened beverage consumption to gastric cancer risk, noting potential factors like weight gain, insulin resistance, and inflammation.