Sugary soft drinks linked to pancreatic cancer: study

WASHINGTON (AFP) - People who drink at least two sugary soft drinks a day have an increased risk of contracting cancer of the pancreas, a study published Monday shows.

A Cambodian scavenger (L) collects empty cans of soft drink (© AFP/File - Tang Chhin Sothy)

Researchers collected data on the consumption of soft drinks, juice and other dietary items, as well as lifestyle and environmental factors of 60,524 people who were part of the massive Singapore Chinese Health Study, following up with study participants for up to 14 years.

Cases and deaths from pancreatic cancer for participants in the study were taken from official Singaporean registries.

The researchers found that people who drank two or more sugar-sweetened soft drinks had a statistically significant increased risk of pancreatic cancer compared with individuals who did not, the study published in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers and Prevention says.

No link was found between drinking juice and pancreatic cancer.

The Singapore Chinese Health Study enrolled more than 63,000 Singapore Chinese who lived in government housing estates -- as nearly nine in 10 people in Singapore do -- and looked at their diets, physical activity, reproductive history, occupational exposure and medical history.