A new study has found that heavy consumption of sugary drinks may increase the risk of cancer.

A new study has found that heavy consumption of sugary drinks may increase the risk of cancer.

Rates of early-onset colorectal cancer are on the rise in multiple locations, including New Zealand, Australia, the US and Canada.

While previous research has suggested associations with poorquality diet leading to the increased rates, new research has found a strong link between sugar-sweetened drink consumption and an increased risk of colorectal cancer (also known as bowel cancer) in women under 50.

The new study by the Washington University School of Medicine has found that heavy consumption of sugary drinks during adolescence (ages 13 to 18) and adulthood could increase the disease risk.

“Colorectal cancer in younger adults remains relatively rare, but the fact that the rates have been increasing over the past three decades – and we don’t understand why – is a major public health concern and a priority in cancer prevention,” said senior author, Professor Yin Cao.

“Due to the increase in colorectal cancer at younger ages, the average age of colorectal cancer diagnosis has gone down from 72 years to 66 years.

These cancers are more advanced at diagnosis and have different characteristics compared with cancers from older populations.

“In past work, we have shown that poor diet quality was associated with increased risk of early-onset colorectal cancer precursors, but we have not previously examined specific nutrients or foods.”

Compared with women who drank less than one 236ml serving per week of sugar-sweetened beverages, women who drank two or more servings of sugar-sweetened drinks per day had just over twice the risk of developing early-onset colorectal cancer (meaning that it was diagnosed before age 50).

The researchers calculated a 16 per cent increase in risk for each 236ml serving per day. From ages 13 to 18, an important time for growth and development, each daily serving was linked to a 32 per cent increased risk of developing colorectal cancer before age 50. While sugar-sweetened beverages were linked to an increased risk of early-onset colorectal cancer, some other drinks – including milk and coffee – were associated with a decreased risk.

Sugar-sweetened drink consumption has also previously been linked to metabolic health problems, such as type 2 diabetes and obesity.

This observational study cannot demonstrate that drinking sugary beverages causes this type of cancer or that drinking milk or coffee is protective, but the researchers said that replacing sweetened beverages with unsweetened drinks, such as milk and coffee, is a better choice for long-term health.