Archive · 20 Aug 2026
Daily Sugary Drinks Linked to Higher Stomach Cancer Risk
Researchers studied more than 112,000 adults in the United States.
They compared people who drank sugary beverages often with those who rarely drank them.
People drinking at least one sugary beverage each day had a higher rate of stomach cancer.
Their risk was about 2.45 times higher than that of people drinking one or fewer such drinks each month.
Eating or drinking more fructose was also linked to higher risk.
However, the study cannot prove that sugary drinks caused the cancer.
Other factors, such as genetics and Helicobacter pylori infections, can affect stomach cancer risk.
Researchers think weight gain, blood sugar changes, inflammation, or gut microorganisms might help explain the association.
A US study found daily sugar-sweetened beverage consumption was associated with a 2.45-fold higher stomach cancer risk.
The research analyzed dietary and health data from 112,284 participants between 1986 and 2022.
Researchers identified 278 stomach cancer cases during the follow-up period.
Higher consumption of fructose was also associated with increased stomach cancer risk.
The study found an association, not proof that sugary drinks directly cause cancer, and some risk-factor data was incomplete.
- Who
- Researchers analyzed 112,284 participants from the Nurses’ Health Study and the Health Professionals Follow-up Study.
- What
- The study found that daily sugar-sweetened beverage consumption was associated with a 2.45-fold higher risk of stomach cancer.
- When
- Participants were followed from 1986 through 2022.
- Where
- The research involved two long-running studies in the United States.
- Why
- Researchers examined whether sugary beverage and fructose consumption were associated with stomach cancer risk.
- Participants
- 112,284 people
- Follow-up period
- 1986–2022
- Stomach cancer cases
- 278
- Higher-risk consumption level
- At least one sugar-sweetened beverage daily
- Comparison group
- People consuming one or fewer such drinks per month
- Reported risk difference
- 2.45-fold higher stomach cancer risk
- Study limitation
- The findings show an association, not direct causation; information on family history and Helicobacter pylori infection was incomplete