SugarScience Blog
Sugar-sweetened beverage intake and cancer recurrence and survival in CALGB 89803 (Alliance)
By SugarScience Editor
SUMMARY: Before this study, we already knew that in colon cancer patients, obesity, lack of exercise, and other lifestyle factors could increase the risk of a cancer recurrence. This research team, for the first time, looked at whether heavy added sugar consumption might make a difference too. The researchers kept track of over 1000 patients after they had received surgery for colon cancer, taking careful measurements of what they ate and drank, as well as all sorts of other lifestyle factors. Taking those other factors in to account, it was found that colon cancer survivors who drank two or more sugar-sweetened beverages per day had an elevated risk of having their colon cancer come back. The strongest effects of sugary drinks occurred among cancer patients who were both overweight and lack exercise.
This is an important study because it is the first of its kind, and because colon cancer is one of the most common cancers. While no single study is likely to provide conclusive evidence, it will be important to conduct more studies in this area, and scientists are also looking study if and how heavy added sugar consumptions impacts getting colon cancer in first place. Stay tuned as SugarScience follows the scientific studies in this important area.
READ THE PUBLICATION: PLOS ONE Journal
MEDIA COVERAGE: CNN Health
Sugar-sweetened beverages
(SSB) Means the same as liquid sugar, or sugary drinks.
SugarScience GlossaryAdded sugar
Any sugar added in preparation of foods, either at the table, in the kitchen or in the processing plant. This may include sucrose, high fructose corn syrup and others.
SugarScience GlossaryCancer
Abnormal, uncontrolled cell growth in a part of the body, many types. Another of the chronic diseases.
SugarScience Glossary