2 or more Soft Drinks Weekly Doubles Pancreatic Cancer Risk

According to a new-fangled study, those who drank even two beverages or soft drinks weekly seem to almost raise their risk of developing pancreatic cancer by two folds or eighty-seven percent heightened risk in comparison to those that did not consume aerated drinks.

There have been sharp reactions from the beverage industry to the study outcome terming it as erroneous and pointed to other studies that detected no link in-between consuming soda and pancreatic cancer.

During 2009, Cancer affecting the pancreas was diagnosed in over forty thousand individuals in the United States. Pancreas located at the rear the stomach produces hormones like insulin for balancing sugar in blood and producing fluids with enzymes to assist in breaking down fats and protein present in food items.

Study Facets

As earlier research has shown diverse results regarding if consuming soft drinks would heighten pancreatic cancer risk, hence Mueller and his associates examined over sixty thousand entrants from both genders beginning in 1993 for nearly fourteen years, observing their dietetic intake and if they developed cancer.

All the entrants were queried regarding their food consumption inclusive of soft drinks and juices. Mueller stated that the investigators did not enquire particularly regarding diet soda intake, however whether majority of the soda consumed was standard or sweet. They detected 140 pancreatic cancer cases after following up their study entrants for fourteen years and reflected back to notice whether there was a link to soda or juice consumption.

Study Outcomes

The investigators segregated the intake of soda and juice into 3 groups: no intake, lesser than 2 serves weekly or 2 or above serves weekly.

Those people who consumed 2 or more weekly, average figure being 5 were at eighty-seven percent heightened risk. There was no association found between juice intake and risk of pancreatic cancer.

Investigators believe that sugar content in sodas raises insulin levels in the system which they deem is contributory to pancreatic cancer cell development. This surge in insulin is what could be the principal factor leading to cancer growth.

The research group amended other risk aspects like increasing age, smoking, being diabetic and BMI (body mass index). Aging is directly proportional to the risk of developing pancreatic cancer.

Beverage Industry Reactions

The beverage industry has disputed the study outcomes sharply indicating that the research had several loop holes. They believe that the study finding is based on comparatively diminutive number of pancreatic cancer cases in comparison to the populace researched. It additionally takes exemption to the spotlight on sodas instead of largely dietetic patterns and fails in proving cause and upshot.