BMJ Sub-Journal: Drinking a lot of sugary drinks when you are young will double your risk of bowel cancer in the future

In recent years, the global consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages has continued to increase, and there is also evidence that the consumption of high-sugar-sweetened beverages may lead to an increased risk of obesity and related diseases, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular disease

Colorectal cancer is the most common cancer in women

In May 2021, University of Washington researchers published a study titled "Adult and adolescent sugar-sweetened beverage intake and the risk of early-onset colorectal cancer in women" in Gut, a top journal in the field of gastroenterology.

Studies have shown that women who drink a lot of sugar-sweetened beverages during adolescence (13-18 years) and adulthood have an increased risk of colorectal cancer before the age of 50

The researchers analyzed data from 95,000 participants from the "Nurse Health Study II" who filled out a food frequency questionnaire every four years and reported on their diet and alcohol consumption

This study conducted an average of 24 years of follow-up surveys on the health of the participants.

Further analysis found that compared with women who drank less than one cup of sugar-sweetened beverages a week, women who drank 2 cups or more of sugar-sweetened beverages a day more than doubled their risk of developing colon cancer before the age of 50

Not only that, during adolescence, from 13 to 18 years old, drinking sugary drinks every day, the risk of colorectal cancer before the age of 50 increased by 32%

The relationship between the intake of sugar-sweetened beverages and the risk of colon cancer among people aged 13-18

In contrast, replacing sugary drinks with coffee, semi-skimmed or whole milk can reduce the risk of early-onset bowel cancer by 17% to 36%

The researchers emphasized that this observational study cannot prove that drinking sugary beverages can cause this cancer, nor can it prove that drinking milk or coffee has a protective effect, but replacing sugary beverages with sugar-free beverages such as milk and coffee is beneficial for long-term health

From a health point of view, the World Health Organization recommends limiting daily sugar intake to about 50 grams, or preferably within 25 grams