In the News: Soda Consumption Linked to Pancreatic Cancer
WASHINGTON, DC thA new study on cancer risk offers one more reason to avoid sugary sodas: A possible link between soft drink consumption and pancreatic cancer.
(Media-Newswire.com) - WASHINGTON, DC –A new study on cancer risk offers one more reason to avoid sugary sodas: A possible link between soft drink consumption and pancreatic cancer.
Researchers collected dietary information from over 60,000 study participants and followed them for up to14 years. Those who drank two or more sweetened soft drinks per week had an 87 percent higher risk of pancreatic cancer compared to those who drank no soft drinks in this study.
Pancreatic cancer is a relatively rare cancer but is the fourth leading cause of cancer death in the US as it is difficult to detect.
The American Institute for Cancer Research ( AICR ) already recommends limiting consumption of energy-dense foods and avoiding sugary drinks for cancer prevention, primarily to help avoid weight gain. Every year, an estimated 100,000 cases of cancer in the US could be prevented if everyone was a healthy weight.
And convincing evidence shows that pancreatic cancer is one of the types of cancer caused by body fatness, according to the AICR expert report.
“Although this study did not find an association between overweight and obesity and risk of pancreatic cancer,” said AICR Director of Researcher Susan Higginbotham, PhD, RD, “the overall body of evidence does show that body fatness is a cause of this cancer.”
“In fact, there is evidence that a specific kind of obesity – central obesity – is a probable cause of pancreatic cancer, although this study did not look at that.”
One hypothesis, the authors note, is that the high glycemic load ( a food’s effect on blood sugar and insulin ) of sodas leads to high blood insulin levels. High insulin levels may increase the rate of cell division in the pancreas, perhaps promoting cancerous cells there.
“More studies are needed to determine if sugary drinks are a cause of pancreatic cancer, but in the meantime, there are already plenty of reasons to limit these beverages.” according to Higginbotham. “Sugary drinks provide calories but do not seem to fill us up as much as solid foods, so those calories end up as extra energy which leads to weight gain.”
“In addition, fewer sugary foods and drinks leave room for healthier foods such as vegetables, fruit and whole grains. A plant based diet, along with regular physical activity and staying at a healthy weight, offers protection against a number of cancers.”
Details of the Study: This study was part of the Singapore Chinese Health Study, a population-based, prospective investigation of diet and cancer risk. Researchers interviewed every participant face-to-face and collected information on height, weight, use of tobacco, physical activity, history of cancer and medical history. Dietary information was gathered using a food frequency questionnaire which included 165 commonly consumed food items. The study also looked at juice consumption and there was not a statistically significant association between juice intake and pancreatic cancer. The authors acknowledge that while they did control for lifestyle characteristics that have been linked to a higher risk of pancreatic cancer, such as smoking, caloric intake, body weight and type 2 diabetes, it is difficult to separate these factors from soft drink consumption. Studies looking at soft drink consumption and pancreatic cancer are limited and although some show a link, results are inconsistent. ***
The American Institute for Cancer Research ( AICR ) is the cancer charity that fosters research on the relationship of nutrition, physical activity and weight management to cancer risk, interprets the scientific literature and educates the public about the results. It has contributed more than $91 million for innovative research conducted at universities, hospitals and research centers across the country. AICR has published two landmark reports that interpret the accumulated research in the field, and is committed to a process of continuous review. AICR also provides a wide range of educational programs to help millions of Americans learn to make dietary changes for lower cancer risk. Its award-winning New American Plate program is presented in brochures, seminars and on its website, www.aicr.org. AICR is a member of the World Cancer Research Fund International.
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