Fruit juices, soft drinks high in sugar linked with raised cancer risk in big new study by French researchers

The latest study to link an increased risk of certain kinds of cancer to the consumption of sweet drinks, more than 100,000 people were surveyed for it

An increase in consumption of sugary drinks of just 100ml per day was associated with an 18 per cent higher risk of cancer

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Consuming soft drinks and fruit juices, which are high in sugar, is linked to an increased risk of cancer by new research. Photo: Alamy

Published: 3:32pm, 12 Jul 2019Updated: 3:32pm, 12 Jul 2019

Drinking sugary drinks such as soft drinks – and seemingly healthy fruit juice – is linked to a higher risk of developing certain kinds of cancer, researchers reported yesterday.

The demand for sugary drinks has exploded worldwide in recent decades and the high-calorie beverages have already been associated with an elevated risk of obesity – itself recognised as a leading cancer risk factor.

Researchers in France wanted to assess the associations between drinking more sweet drinks and the risks of overall cancer, as well as several cancer types, including breast, prostate and bowel cancers. They surveyed more than 100,000 adults, with an average of age of 42, 79 per cent of whom were women.

The participants, who were followed for up to nine years, completed at least two 24-hour online validated dietary questionnaires, calculating their daily consumption of sugar and artificially sweetened beverages as well as 100 per cent fruit juices.

An increase of 100ml – a third of a can of Coke – of sugary drinks per day was associated with an 18 per cent increased risk of cancer. Photo: Alamy

Researchers measured the daily intakes of sugary drinks against those of diet beverages and compared them to cancer cases in participants’ medical records during the follow-up period.

They found that an increase of just 100ml (3.4oz) – about a third of a can of Coke – per day of sugary drinks was associated with an 18 per cent increased risk of cancer, and with a 22 per cent increase in breast cancer.