More than 6 in 10 adults in the United States consume sugar-sweetened beverages daily, a habit that may increase the risk of liver cancer and death from chronic liver disease among older women, according to a recent study.
Published in the medical journal JAMA on Tuesday, the study tracked the beverage consumption habits of nearly 100,000 women aged 50 to 79 across the United States over a period of nearly two decades.
The researchers found that compared to women who drank fewer sugar-sweetened beverages less frequently, those who consumed sugary drinks daily faced increased rates of liver cancer and deaths related to chronic liver disease.
Participants in the study, part of the Women’s Health Initiative funded by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, reported their consumption of sweetened soft drinks and fruit drinks over the study period, which averaged nearly 21 years.
Approximately 7% of the women consumed sugar-sweetened beverages daily, while over 13% opted for artificially sweetened drinks daily.
The findings revealed that women who drank at least one sugar-sweetened beverage per day were 1.75 times more likely to be diagnosed with liver cancer compared to those who consumed three or fewer such beverages per month.
They were also nearly 2.5 times more likely to die from chronic liver disease.
Interestingly, women who consumed artificially sweetened beverages did not exhibit significantly higher risks of liver-related health issues, regardless of their daily intake.
Dr. Karina Lora, an assistant professor of exercise and nutrition sciences at George Washington University who was not involved in the study, emphasized the study’s findings as further evidence of the potential health risks associated with regular consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages, especially as individuals age.
Despite highlighting a correlation between sugary drink consumption and liver conditions, the study did not establish a cause-and-effect relationship or specify the biological mechanisms through which sugar might contribute to liver disease risk.
Reflecting on the study’s limitations, including its predominantly White female participant base with minimal representation from Black and Hispanic women, Lora suggested future research should look into how these findings might vary across different demographic groups.
Experts noted that the study’s reliance on self-reported beverage habits at the study’s outset in the early 1990s, with only occasional updates, may not fully reflect changes in participants’ consumption patterns over the ensuing decades, potentially affecting the study’s outcomes.
Nevertheless, researchers Longgang Zhao and Xuehong Zhang from Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School underscored the study’s implications, suggesting that reducing sugar-sweetened beverage intake could serve as a public health strategy to mitigate the burden of liver disease.
Dr. Pauline Emmett, a senior research fellow at the University of Bristol, emphasized the importance of informed decision-making regarding sugary beverage consumption, advocating for moderation and highlighting water as a healthier alternative.
Lora echoed this sentiment, advising moderation while cautioning against alarm, emphasizing that occasional consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages is permissible but should be done sparingly.
While acknowledging the ongoing debate over sugary drink consumption, experts encourage individuals to prioritize healthier beverage choices as part of a balanced diet.
