A study has found that high consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) significantly increases the risk of oral cavity cancer (OCC) in women, particularly in nonsmokers and light smokers.
The study, published online March 13 in JAMA Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, was based on data from 162,602 women who participated in the Nurses’ Health Study and Nurses’ Health Study II. It revealed that women who consumed one or more SSBs daily had nearly five times the risk of developing OCC compared to those who drank fewer than one per month.
Followed participants for thee decades
The study followed participants for up to 30 years, documenting 124 cases of invasive OCC. The findings suggest an increase in OCC rates by three cases per 100,000 women over time.
For nonsmokers or light smokers and nondrinkers or light drinkers, the risk was even more pronounced, with a 5.46-fold higher risk for those consuming one or more SSBs daily.
This emerging data suggests that SSB intake could be an important factor in the development of OCC, especially among low-risk women. The study emphasizes the need for further research in larger, more diverse populations to confirm these results and explore the impact of sugar intake on other demographics.