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NewsFox 13 News (WTVT) — All NewsAugust 19, 2026Hillsborough

Mass General Brigham study links daily sugary drink consumption to increased stomach cancer risk

A new observational study of over 100,000 healthcare professionals found that consuming at least one sugar-sweetened beverage daily is associated with nearly triple the risk of developing gastric cancer. The research suggests fructose may play a role in this increased risk, though it does not definitively prove a direct causal relationship.

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Why It Matters

This study highlights a potential lifestyle factor for , which is seeing rising incidence rates among adults under 50.

Key Facts

  • Participants consuming at least one sugary drink daily showed nearly three times the risk of gastric cancer compared to those consuming fewer than one per month.
  • The study analyzed data from over 100,000 participants in the Nurses' Health Study and the Health Professionals Follow-Up Study.
  • Approximately 63% of U.S. adults consume sugar-sweetened beverages at least once daily.
  • Artificially sweetened beverages were not associated with an increased risk of gastric cancer in this study.
  • Researchers identified fructose as a primary sweetener in the drinks associated with higher risk.
  • The study found no association between sugary drink consumption and H. pylori bacteria, a known risk factor for stomach cancer.
  • The study population was predominantly White healthcare professionals, limiting the generalizability of the findings.
  • The research is observational and does not prove that sugary drinks directly cause stomach cancer.

Who's Mentioned

organizationCDC“Source of data regarding sugary beverage consumption in U.S. adults.”otherGastro Hep Advances“Journal where the study was published.”organizationMass General Brigham“Research institution that conducted the study.”other50“Age threshold for rising gastrointestinal cancer trends.”personAndrew T. Chan“Senior author of the study, gastroenterologist and epidemiologist.”