On September 15, 2022, findings of a study published in the American Association for Cancer Research journal sought to find any associations between sweetened beverage consumption and cancer risk.
Let’s look at the findings of the study “Sugary beverages linked to increased risk for fatal cancers” with Ehline Law and our personal injury attorneys.
Could Sugary Drinks Raise Your Odds for Fatal Cancers?
The study conducted by Marjorie McCullough, a senior scientific director at the American Cancer Society, revealed a higher body mass index (BMI) among the study participants who regularly consume sugary drinks.
Study Methodology
To find associations between sweetened drinks and cancer, the researchers used Cancer Prevention Study data regarding all types of cancer. The data in the database came from 1982, when 934,000 cancer-free participants provided information about their beverage consumption in the United States.
Using that data, the researchers used regression models to determine the association between beverage type and cancer mortality. There were no BMI adjustments.
Study Findings
The research found that 135,094 people died from cancer. The study did not find any associations between all-cancer mortality and beverage consumption among participants who consumed artificially sweetened beverages twice or more than twice daily and those who did not drink at all. It showed an increased risk of obesity-related cancers, which became null after BMI adjustment.
After adjusting BMI in the results, the study found an increased risk of colon and kidney cancer among participants who regularly drank.
The study showed the odds of fatal cancer associated with sugar-sweetened beverages. It revealed a 5% increase in cancer mortality rates for many types of cancer among men and women consuming two or more servings of sugar-sweetened beverages daily.
Future Research Recommendations
In an American Cancer Society news release, McCullough, director of epidemiology research, suggested that future studies must incorporate the role of BMI.
She also stated that the United States public policy must consider the heightened risk of cancer associated with the consumption of artificially sweetened beverages.
“Americans Exceed Recommended Limits for Artificially Sweetened Beverages Limits,” McCullough Warns of Cancer Risk
Americans are not sticking to the daily recommended sugar intake set by US Dietary guidelines.
The study findings strongly indicate an association between different types of cancer and the consumption of sugary drinks. It suggests the need to limit the consumption of such beverages to decrease the risk of diseases.
In an American Cancer Society news release, the senior scientific director stated that many believe artificial sweeteners to be safe. Still, there is a need for further studies into artificial sweeteners as risk factors for developing pancreatic cancer, obesity-related cancers, and 20 other cancer types.
Soft Drink Industry in the United States
The sugar-sweetened beverages industry stood at 253.7 billion in 2016 and is further expected to grow at a 5.1% compound annual growth rate.
The increasing population, higher consumer disposable income, and the growing need for sweetened beverages fuel the sugar-sweetened beverages market in the United States.
Experts believe there is still a lot of potential in the US sweetened beverage consumption market. However, the spiraling health issues, higher body mass index and its association with obesity-related cancers, and the potential cancer risk prevent it.
Big sugar faces serious scrutiny after evidence surfaced that they suppressed numerous studies that linked sugar with cancer and heart disease. Obscuring research that links a company’s product to serious health consequences can lead to lawsuits against big sugar, just as it did with the tobacco industry and pharmaceuticals.
Ehline Law and our personal injury attorneys closely follow legal developments against companies accused of products that are considered safe but could be dangerous or defective.
If you suffered harm using a product, contact us at (833) LETS-SUE for a free consultation, as you may qualify for compensation under product liability law.
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