That daily soda or sports drink may be doing more harm than you think. A new prospective study published in Gastro Hep Advances, drawing on data from over 112,000 participants across two major U.S. cohorts, found that drinking at least one 8 oz. sugar-sweetened beverage per day was associated with a 2.5 times greater risk of developing gastric cancer compared to those who never consumed them. The link held up in both men and women, and even after accounting for obesity — itself an independent cancer risk factor.

Importantly, artificially sweetened beverages showed no significant association with gastric cancer, offering some reassurance for diet soda drinkers. Researchers believe sugary drinks may contribute to cancer risk through weight gain, insulin resistance, and changes to the gut microbiome, though the exact mechanism remains under investigation.

By the Numbers:

• 112,284 participants followed over 3.2 million person-years
• 278 gastric cancer cases documented
• HR = 2.45 (95% CI, 1.49–4.04) for ≥1 sugary drink/day vs. never users
• HR = 3.04 for women; HR = 1.99 for men consuming >1 serving/day
• ~65% of U.S. adults drink at least one sugary beverage daily

Why it matters: Gastric cancer is the fourth-leading cause of cancer death globally and is often caught late. With nearly two-thirds of U.S. adults consuming sugary drinks daily, this finding points to a potentially significant and actionable dietary risk factor that could inform both clinical counseling and public health messaging.