Title: Consuming Sugar-Sweetened Beverages Linked to Higher Risk of Liver Cancer and Disease Mortality, Study Finds
Date: [Insert Date]
Approximately 65% of adults in the United States consume sugar-sweetened beverages on a daily basis, highlighting the popularity of these drinks among the American population. However, a new study conducted by researchers at Brigham and Women’s Hospital has shed light on the potential health risks associated with the regular consumption of these beverages.
Chronic liver disease is a significant contributor to morbidity and mortality worldwide and can lead to serious complications such as liver cancer and liver disease-related mortality. The study, published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), examined the association between the intake of sugar-sweetened beverages, artificially sweetened beverages, and the incidence of liver cancer and chronic liver disease mortality.
Led by Longgang Zhao, PhD, a postdoctoral researcher, and senior author Xuehong Zhang, MBBS, ScD, the study delved into the impact of these beverages on postmenopausal women. The researchers analyzed data from the Women’s Health Initiative study, which included nearly 100,000 postmenopausal women who reported their consumption of soft drinks, fruit drinks (excluding fruit juice), and artificially sweetened beverages.
Over a median follow-up period of more than 20 years, the researchers found that participants who consumed one or more sugar-sweetened beverages daily had an 85% higher risk of developing liver cancer and a 68% higher risk of chronic liver disease mortality compared to those who consumed fewer than three sugar-sweetened beverages per month.
Importantly, the study was observational in nature, meaning that it cannot establish a cause-and-effect relationship between sugar-sweetened beverage consumption and liver cancer or disease mortality. The findings relied on self-reported responses regarding beverage intake and outcomes, which may be subject to certain limitations. Therefore, further studies are needed to validate these associations and understand the underlying mechanisms that drive the increased risks.
Dr. Zhao, the first author of the study, commented on the potential implications of the findings, stating that “Our findings, if confirmed, may pave the way to a public health strategy to reduce the risk of liver disease based on data from a large and geographically diverse cohort.”
Given the widespread consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages, the implications of this study are significant. Public health initiatives aimed at reducing the intake of these drinks may help minimize the risk of chronic liver disease and its associated complications.
Further research integrating genetics, preclinical and experimental studies, and -omics data will be crucial in unraveling the mechanisms behind the observed association between sugar-sweetened beverages and liver cancer and disease mortality. In the meantime, individuals are encouraged to make informed choices about their beverage consumption for the sake of their liver health.
Source:
Journal reference:
Zhao, L., et al. (2023). Sugar-Sweetened and Artificially Sweetened Beverages and Risk of Liver Cancer and Chronic Liver Disease Mortality. JAMA. doi.org/10.1001/jama.2023.12618