JUST a third of a can of coke a day can raise your risk of cancer, research suggests – and fruit juice is just as risky.
Experts found that just 100ml of sugary drink could raise your risk of the disease by 18 per cent – a typical can is around 330ml.
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The risk of breast cancer specifically rose by 22 per cent.
The team of French researchers believe that sugar in the drinks causes our bodies to store more fat around organs such as the liver and pancreas, and this has been linked to a higher risk of cancer.
High blood sugar levels, inflammation and additives in some drinks may also be to blame.
Diet drinks showed some increased risk, though scientists said only low levels were consumed during the survey.
The study, published in the British Medical Journal, was based on 101,257 healthy French adults.
SUGAR TAX
Scientists looked at the risk of overall cancer, as well as breast, prostate and bowel cancers.
Volunteers completed dietary surveys and were monitored for nine years.
No association was found for prostate or colorectal cancers, though numbers of these cancers were also limited in the study.
While cautious interpretation is needed, the findings add to a growing body of evidence indicating that limiting sugary drink consumption, together with taxation and marketing restrictions, might contribute to a reduction in cancer cases.
Study author Dr Bernard Srour at the Unit of Nutritional Epidemiology, French Institute of Health and Medical Research said: “The consumption of sugary drinks was significantly associated with the risk of overall cancer.
What are the signs and symptoms of breast cancer?
Breast cancer often causes changes in the breast, including an alteration in the shape or size in both or one of your breasts.
Sometimes there may be a lump which feels thicker or harder than the rest of the tissue.
The skin on your breast may change, causing puckering or dimpling, that can resemble orange peel.
A rash may appear or your skin may seem redder, especially around the nipple.
Your nipple may also change shape, and appear stretched, and liquid may leak from the nipples, even without being squeezed.
The nipples may also become sunken or inverted.
You may experience pain in your breast – or armpit – and there may be a swelling around your collarbone or armpit.
Some changes that occur may not be a sign of cancer but normal changes or a benign lump.
“This is an observational study, so can’t establish cause but the study sample was large and we were able to adjust for a wide range of potentially influential factors.
“What’s more, the results were largely unchanged after further testing, suggesting that the findings withstand scrutiny.”
He said a tax on sugary drinks and marketing restrictions may help to reduce cancer diagnosis.
