A new study finds that women who drink at least one sugary beverage per day are five times more likely to develop oral cancer than those who generally avoid sugary soft drinks
The University of Washington study was conducted amid an alarming rise in oral cancer cases, primarily among young, non-smoking, and non-drinking patients with no other risk factors.
For decades, oral cancer has been primarily associated with older men exposed to known carcinogens, including tobacco, alcohol, and betel nut chewing. However, with the rise of anti-smoking campaigns, the overall incidence of smoking-related oral cancer has been steadily declining in Western countries.
The greatest concern, however, is the rising incidence of cervical cancer worldwide among non-smokers, particularly young white women. The cause of this increase remains unknown, but one possible culprit is human papillomavirus (HPV), a common sexually transmitted infection.
A University of Washington study, published in JAMA Otolaryngology–Head & Neck Surgery, found that high consumption of sugary soft drinks is linked to an increased risk of oral cancer in women, regardless of their smoking or drinking habits.
Sweetened beverages have been studied for their link to colorectal and other gastrointestinal cancers but have never before been examined in relation to head and neck cancer.
According to Dr. Brittany Barber, lead author of the study and associate professor in the Department of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery at Washington University School of Medicine, the findings could help guide new research into the causes of oral cancer in women.
“Oral cancer is less common than breast or colon cancer, with an estimated 4 to 4.3 cases per 100,000 people annually. However, its incidence is rising among women who neither smoke nor drink,” Barber noted.
