A large pooled analysis of 11 prospective studies covering more than 1.5 million adults found that drinking sugar-sweetened beverages regularly was linked to higher risks of two liver cancer subtypes: hepatocellular carcinoma and intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma. Each additional sugary drink per day was associated with a 10–15% increased risk of these cancers. Importantly, artificially sweetened beverages showed no significant association with liver cancer. The findings, published in JAMA Network Open and led by researchers at the National Cancer Institute, add to growing evidence that sugary drinks contribute to cancer risk beyond their known effects on obesity and diabetes, suggesting direct metabolic mechanisms may also be involved.
