Consuming sugary drinks on a regular basis increases the risk of liver cancer and chronic liver diseases, according to a recent study by researchers at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston. Despite the known health risks associated with high sugar intake, approximately 65% of adults in the US still consume sugary drinks regularly. The study aimed to investigate whether a sugar tax could reduce the consumption of these drinks.
The researchers analyzed data from around 100,000 women in the Women’s Health Initiative study, documenting their usual consumption of sugary and artificially sweetened drinks. The women’s health was monitored for a median of 20 years, during which the researchers examined self-reported cases of liver cancer and deaths from chronic liver diseases. Women who consumed one or more sugary drinks per day had an 85% higher risk of liver cancer and a 68% higher risk of death from chronic liver diseases compared to those who consumed less than three sugary drinks per month.
The study is observational, meaning that no causality can be inferred from the results. However, the findings suggest a potential link between sugary drink consumption and liver cancer and diseases. The authors of the study emphasize the need for further research to confirm this relationship and to understand why sugary drinks appear to increase the risk of liver cancer and diseases.
These findings could pave the way for public health strategies aimed at reducing the risk of liver diseases based on data from a large and geographically diverse cohort. The study highlights the importance of reducing sugar intake and the potential benefits of a sugar tax in reducing the consumption of sugary drinks.
