A study from the University of Minnesota published the first findings of a link between sugary drinks and estrogen-dependent type I endometrial cancer. This is the most common type of endrometrial, also known as uterine cancer.
There are more than 49,560 new cases of endometrial cancer and 8,190 deaths caused by it each year, according to the National Cancer Institute of the United States.
Maki Inoue-Choi, lead researcher in the study, said depending on the dosage, consumption of sugary drinks can lead to almost a 78% higher risk for endometrial cancer. She also reports that since this is the first study to report this link, other studies should be done to replicate the findings.
These findings weren’t a complete surprise since there has been a reported link between obesity and this type of cancer.
“The idea is that sugary and sweetened beverages could lead to weight gain if consumed in excess, and they recognize that might be a contributing factor,” said Rickelle Richards, a BYU professor in the department of Nutrition, Dietetics and Food Science.
Richards said she would recommend limiting consumption of these sweet and sugary beverages regardless of this study.
“They provide excess calories, which can lead to weight gain,” Richards said. “Which in (and) of itself doesn’t mean that it’s a problem, but it could potentially lead to other chronic diseases.”
Richards said abiding by the recommendations listed on ChooseMyPlate.gov will help in preventing diet-related chronic diseases since beverages like sugary and sweetened drinks just don’t fit into those recommendations.
