It’s not so much the fruit aspect, but the high sugar content in most fruit juices that are the culprit, but yes, drinking a lot of orange juice or sodas may increase the risk of contracting cancer, French scientists have claimed.
In a study published Wednesday, researchers from Sorbonne Paris Cite University, said the consumption of sugary drinks — in which 100% fruit juice is included along with sodas — was “significantly associated with the risk of overall cancer.” Artificially-sweetened drinks, like diet soda, were not associated with increased cancer risks, they found. Sugary drinks were defined as beverages that contained more than 5% sugar, which included fruit juices that had no added sugar.
The report’s authors followed 101,257 adults over a five-year period, monitoring their intake of sugary and artificially-sweetened beverages. During the study, 2,193 cases of cancer were diagnosed among the participants, the equivalent of around 22 cases per 1,000 people. The majority of those cases were among people who regularly consumed sugary drinks.
It sounds grim alright, but the report’s authors noted that further investigations were needed to solidify the significance of their findings. “These results need replication in other large scale prospective studies. They suggest that sugary drinks, which are widely consumed in Western countries, might represent a modifiable risk factor for cancer prevention,” they said.
They added that their findings could support existing recommendations to limit sugary drink consumption, as well as policy actions such as taxation and marketing restrictions that targeted sugary drinks.
A spokesperson for the American Beverage Association (ABA) stated in an email to CNBC that leading drinks companies were working together help consumers reduce their sugar consumption. “It’s important for people to know that all beverages, either with sugar or without, are safe to consume as part of a balanced diet,” she said.
In another emailed statement, Gavin Partington, director general of the British Soft Drinks Association — which represents manufacturers including Coca-Cola and PepsiCo — agreed with the ABA that soft drinks were safe to consume as part of a balanced diet.
“This study reports a possible association between higher consumption of sugary drinks and an increased risk of cancer, but does not provide evidence of cause, as the authors readily admit,” he said. “The soft drinks industry recognizes it has a role to play in helping to tackle obesity which is why we have led the way in calorie and sugar reduction.”
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