Sugar-Sweetened Beverage Consumption and Cancer Risk

Consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) has risen sharply in recent decades, paralleling global increases in obesity, type 2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome—established risk factors for several cancers. High intake of SSBs contributes to excess caloric load, insulin resistance and chronic low-grade inflammation, all of which can promote tumourigenesis. Mechanistic studies indicate that SSB-induced hyperinsulinaemia elevates circulating insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I), fostering cellular proliferation and inhibiting apoptosis. Moreover, high sugar exposure generates advanced glycation end-products (AGEs) that exacerbate oxidative stress and inflammatory signalling within tissues. Epidemiological data have linked daily SSB consumption to higher risks of breast, colorectal, biliary tract and prostate cancers, with emerging evidence implicating sugar-containing fruit juices in melanoma and thyroid malignancies. Despite variability across study designs and populations, the convergence of metabolic, preclinical and observational findings underscores a probable causal role for SSBs in cancer initiation and progression. From a public health perspective, limiting SSB intake and replacing these beverages with water or low-energy alternatives could form part of integrated cancer prevention strategies worldwide.

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Sugar-Sweetened Beverage Consumption and Cancer Risk publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in sugar-sweetened beverage consumption and cancer risk across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I): a peptide hormone that regulates cell proliferation and survival, implicated in tumour development when elevated.

Advanced glycation end-products (AGEs): reactive molecules formed by non-enzymatic sugar–protein or sugar–lipid reactions, which promote oxidative stress and inflammation.

Dose–response meta-analysis: a quantitative method that assesses how varying levels of exposure to a factor influence the magnitude of a health outcome.

Systematic review: a structured synthesis of all relevant studies on a topic, following predefined inclusion criteria to minimise bias.

References

1. Still too little evidence: the role of diet in colorectal cancer survivorship - a systematic review. Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition (2024).
2. Association of soft drinks and 100% fruit juice consumption with risk of cancer: a systematic review and dose–response meta-analysis of prospective cohort studies. International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity (2023).
3. Sugar sweetened beverages, natural fruit juices, and cancer: what we know and what still needs to be assessed. Frontiers in Nutrition (2023).