A study links drinking sugary drinks to liver cancer

A study in more than 90,000 women Postmenopausal women find People who drank at least one sugary drink a day had a 78% increased risk of liver cancer compared with those who drank fewer than three such beverages per month.

“Our findings suggest that consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages Potentially modifiable risk factors for liver cancer. If our findings are confirmed, reducing consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages could serve as a public health strategy to reduce the burden of liver cancer,” he said. Zhao Longgang, Ph.D., University of South Carolina, USA, lead author of the study.

“Alternatives to sugary drinks go through water And by unsweetened coffee or tea can significantly reduce the risk of liver cancer,” added Zhao, one of the center’s experts. Brigham and Women’s Hospital They conducted the study to analyze the relationship between sugar-sweetened beverage intake and the incidence of liver cancer and chronic liver disease, as well as mortality from liver disease.

The findings were published in an authoritative medical journal no way.

“As far as we know, this is First study reports association between sugar-sweetened beverage intake and mortality from chronic liver diseaseZhao said.

Thus, new research published in the medical journal JAMA confirms that a daily intake of sweetened soft drinks and beverages, It is associated with an increased risk of liver cancer and increased mortality from chronic liver disease. The liver, like any other organ in the body, is affected by our diet.

Now, experts in this survey confirm that An unhealthy diet can cause damage to the body’s vital organs, worsening their function or Increased risk of liver disease.

Sweetened beverages are beverages that typically contain: added sugar, that is, substances added during food processing, such as those added to soft drinks.In this sense, a new study warns that drinking 1 or more sugar-sweetened beverages per day increases the risk of liver cancer and increases mortality from liver diseases such as Fibrosis, cirrhosis, or chronic hepatitis.

this incidence of liver cancer increased Considerable changes have taken place in the world over the past thirty years. About 40 percent of liver cancer cases cannot be explained by known risk factors, although most patients have risk factors such as chronic hepatitis infection, alcohol consumption, and diabetes. Researchers try to find out whether specific dietary factors may play a role.

Regular consumption of sugary drinks, such as soda and fruit drinks, has been linked to a variety of health problems. Although consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages has decreased in recent decadesis still common.

In this new study, the researchers looked at Data from 90,504 postmenopausal women She participated in the Women’s Health Initiative, a long-term study launched in the early 1990s.

Participants completed a baseline questionnaire in the mid-1990s and were followed for an average of 18 years.researcher assessment Sugar-sweetened beverage intake based on a validated food frequency questionnaire Participants’ medical records were used to confirm liver cancer diagnoses.

In the sample, 7% of participants said they consumed one or more 350ml drinks A total of 205 women who drank one can of sugary drink a day developed liver cancer. Women who drank one or more sugary drinks a day were 78% more likely to develop liver cancer People who drank at least one soft drink a day were 73 percent more likely to The odds of developing liver cancer were higher compared with those who never drank these beverages or drank fewer than three beverages per month.

While more research is needed to determine the factors and mechanisms behind the relationship, the researchers said higher sugar-sweetened beverage intake may increase the risk of obesity and type 2 diabetes, which are linked to liver cancer, experts said. risk factor. These drinks can also lead to insulin resistance and fat accumulation in the liver.two factors that affect liver health.

“Consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages is recognized as a risk factor for obesity, diabetes and cardiovascular disease, Can lead to insulin resistance and inflammation, which is closely related to the occurrence of liver cancer. Zhao said, clarifying that the study was observational and was not designed to determine whether sugary drinks actually cause liver cancer, or whether sugary drink consumption is an indicator of other factors in liver cancer. . lifestyle.

In addition, since the study focused on postmenopausal women, Studies in young men and women are needed to more fully examine these associations.

They also argue that more research is needed to verify this risk association and determine why sugary drinks appear to increase the risk of cancer and liver disease. Furthermore, further studies are needed to elucidate possible mechanisms by integrating genetics, preclinical and experimental studies, and omics data.

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