Title: Study Shows Daily Consumption of Sugar-Sweetened Beverages Increases Risk of Liver Cancer in Older Women
Byline: By Adriana Diaz | August 8, 2023 | 9:09pm
A new study published in the medical journal JAMA reveals that older women who consume just one sugar-sweetened beverage per day have a significantly higher risk of developing liver cancer and dying from chronic liver disease. The research, conducted by Harvard Medical School, looked at data from nearly 100,000 American women aged 50 to 79 over a period of 20 years.
The study found that postmenopausal women who drank at least one sweetened soft drink or fruit drink daily were 1.75 times more likely to be diagnosed with liver cancer and 2.5 times more likely to die from chronic liver disease compared to those who consumed three or fewer of these beverages per month. These results emphasize the importance of considering the potential health risks before choosing to drink sugar-sweetened beverages on a regular basis.
While it is estimated that about 65% of US adults consume sugary drinks daily, only 7% of the women in the study drank these beverages daily. Over 13% consumed artificially sweetened beverages each day. Interestingly, the study found that women who consumed artificially sweetened beverages did not have a significantly higher risk of developing liver problems.
However, it is important to note that the study does not establish causation, and the participants were only asked to record their consumption patterns at the beginning of the study and three years in. Therefore, their habits may have changed over the 20-year observation period.
Another recently published study also highlighted the negative health consequences of excessive fructose intake, which is often consumed in the form of table sugar and high fructose corn syrup. This study linked fructose intake to obesity and conditions such as diabetes and fatty liver disease.
Sugary drinks, including sodas, energy drinks, and fruit beverages, have long been associated with increased risks of obesity, diabetes, cancers, and liver diseases. Chronic liver disease is currently the ninth-leading cause of death in the US, with over 56,000 deaths attributed to the illness annually. Liver cancer affects around 11,000 American women each year, leading to 9,000 deaths.
With liver diseases on the rise, including a recent study linking alcohol-related liver disease to the COVID-19 pandemic, it is crucial to raise awareness about the potential health risks associated with daily consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages. As researchers continue to explore the impact of dietary factors on liver health, it is advisable for individuals, especially older women, to consider healthier alternatives to sugary drinks as part of their regular diet.