Sweetened Beverages Linked to Higher Liver Cancer Risk in Women Over 50: What You Need to Know

Excessive sugar consumption plays a role in many diseases and may even increase the risk of developing liver cancer. A large observational study links the consumption of sugar-sweetened and artificially Sweetened drinks to an increased risk of liver cancer and mortality from chronic liver disease in women over 50.

Sweet Drinks

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Researchers at Brigham and Women’s Hospital conducted a study that examined the association between the consumption of sweetened beverages (excluding fruit juice) or sweetened drinks and the incidence of liver cancer and mortality from chronic liver disease. The results are published in JAMA Network.

In postmenopausal women followed for about 20 years, those who consumed at least one sweetened beverage per day had a higher incidence of liver cancer (85% higher risk) and death from chronic liver diseases such as fibrosis, cirrhosis, or hepatitis (68% higher risk) than those who consumed fewer than four sweetened beverages per month. Results for sweetened beverages were not significant.

An association that needs to be clarified in further studies

This observational (non-randomized) study involved 98,786 women aged 50 to 79 who participated in the large prospective Women’s Health Initiative study between 1993 and 1998. Consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages was assessed using a food frequency questionnaire administered at baseline. It should be noted that self-reported responses by participants may therefore be a source of error.

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According to the authors, further studies are needed to validate this association and to find out why sweetened beverages appear to increase the risk of cancer and liver disease. Since excess sugar is converted to fat in the body, high lipid deposition in the liver may explain, at least in part, the occurrence of liver disease.

References

Zhao L, Zhang X, Coday M, et al. Sugar-Sweetened and Artificially Sweetened Beverages and Risk of Liver Cancer and Chronic Liver Disease Mortality. JAMA. 2023;330(6):537–546. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2023.12618