Two or more soft drinks per week increases risk factors for pancreatic cancer

The reasons for cutting back on soda are increasing. According to a paper published in the February 2010 issue of the medical journal, “Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers”, consumption of two or more soft drinks per week significantly increases ones risk factors for pancreatic cancer. The study pointed to the link between sugar in soft drinks, as opposed to sugar in fruit juices.

The study, which was conducted on 60,524 Chinese living in Singapore over a period of 14 years, resulted in 140 cases of pancreatic cancer. Because pancreatic cancer is most often diagnosed late, after it has spread beyond the pancreas, it is very difficult to treat, and has a low survival rate. Scientists still do not know exactly what causes the proliferation of cells that lead to pancreatic cancer, but they have identified some risk factors. Among those risk factors is a diagnosis of type 2 diabetes.

This is not the first time that high amounts of sugar in the diet have been linked to pancreatic cancer. Researchers in Sweden also discovered a link between sugary drinks and pancreatic cancer in a study conducted on 80,000 people from 1995 – 2005. This study resulted in 131 cases of pancreatic cancer.