One Glass a Day: Study Identifies a Beverage That May Increase Liver Cancer Risk

Regular consumption of sugar-sweetened soft drinks may be associated with an increased risk of liver cancer, according to a study published in JAMA Network Open.

Researchers analyzed data from more than 1.5 million adults across 11 long-term observational studies to investigate whether consumption of sugar-sweetened and artificially sweetened beverages was linked to the development of liver cancer.

Participants completed dietary questionnaires and were followed for an average of approximately 18 years. Cases of liver cancer were identified through national cancer registries and medical examinations.

The analysis found that higher consumption of beverages containing added sugar was associated with an increased risk of the two major forms of liver cancer: Hepatocellular Carcinoma and Intrahepatic Cholangiocarcinoma.

In contrast, no similar association was observed for artificially sweetened beverages. Consumption of these drinks was not linked to an increased overall risk of liver cancer or to specific liver cancer subtypes.

The researchers emphasize that the study was observational in nature and therefore cannot prove a cause-and-effect relationship between sugary drinks and liver cancer.

However, the findings are consistent with a growing body of evidence suggesting that long-term consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages may have adverse effects on health, including metabolic disorders that are known risk factors for liver disease and certain cancers.

The authors note that further research is needed to clarify the biological mechanisms involved and to determine whether reducing consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages could help lower liver cancer risk.