Stomach cancer: A newly published study from Mass General Brigham Cancer Institute analyzed health and dietary data from 112,284 people followed for more than two decades. Researchers found that people drinking at least one sugar-sweetened beverage daily had 2.45 times the risk of developing stomach (gastric) cancer compared with those drinking less than one serving per month.
A First-of-Its-Kind Finding
A study published August 17, 2026, in Gastro Hep Advances has reported the first association between sugar-sweetened beverage intake and stomach (gastric) cancer in a U.S. population. Researchers from the Massachusetts General Brigham Cancer Institute, led by senior author Dr. Andrew T. Chan, analyzed dietary and health data from 112,284 adults followed over several decades.
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The Numbers Raise Eyebrows
People consuming at least one sugar-sweetened beverage daily had a 2.45-times higher risk of developing gastric cancer compared with those consuming less than one serving per month. The study included 278 gastric cancer cases and also found that higher intake of fructose, the main sweetener in many of these drinks, was associated with greater stomach cancer incidence. However, this was an observational study, meaning it can identify an association but cannot prove that sugary drinks directly cause cancer.
What Scientists Think & What Comes Next
Researchers say the possible connection may involve metabolic dysfunction, elevated blood glucose and insulin, inflammation, weight gain, and other metabolic changes. Interestingly, the study found no similar association with artificially sweetened beverages. The team also examined H. pylori, a major stomach-cancer risk factor, in a subset of participants and found no association between sugary-drink intake and H. pylori infection. Scientists stress that more research is needed to confirm the finding and uncover the mechanism.
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The Bigger Picture
The finding is significant because previous research on sugary drinks and gastric cancer has been limited and inconsistent. A large Japanese prospective study, for example, previously found no significant association. So this new research should be viewed as an important signal, not definitive proof. For now, cutting back on sugary beverages remains a sensible choice given their established links with other metabolic health problems.