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Sugar sweetened and artificially sweetened beverages, fruit and vegetable juices and cancer risk: a World Cancer Research Fund International Global Cancer Update Programme (CUP Global) systematic literature review and meta-analysis

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Title:Sugar sweetened and artificially sweetened beverages, fruit and vegetable juices and cancer risk: a World Cancer Research Fund International Global Cancer Update Programme (CUP Global) systematic literature review and meta-analysis
Creators: Jayedi, Ahmad ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4231-3147, Markozannes, Georgios ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8481-579X, Kazmi, Sayada Zartasha ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9267-3637, Cariolou, Margarita ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2660-7866, Vieira, Rita, Kiss, Sonia, Balducci, Katia, Pagkalidou, Eirini ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8655-7293, Cividini, Sofia ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2705-9224, Aune, Dagfinn ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4533-1722, Greenwood, Darren C. ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7035-3096, Dossus, Laure ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2716-5748, Fontvieille, Emma ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5488-9317, Ahmadi, Nahid ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8144-2764, Mahamat-Saleh, Yahya ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5892-8886, Cross, Amanda J. ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0893-2377, Gunter, Marc J. ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5472-6761, Zürn, Shalini Jayasekar, Abnet, Christian C. ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3008-7843, Ferrari, Pietro ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9358-7338, Gordon-Dseagu, Vanessa L.Z. ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1867-2238, Maskell, Kristy, Clary, Christelle ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5959-5043, Croker, Helen ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7247-6599, Mitrou, Panagiota, Riboli, Elio ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6795-6080, Baskin, Monica ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5544-0412, Chowdhury, Rajiv ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4881-5690, Gaudet, Mia ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6429-4007, Giovannucci, Edward ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0003-9117-569X, Kampman, Ellen ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8606-7075, Lewis, Sarah J. ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4311-6890, May, Anne M., Park, Yikyung ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6281-489X, Pischon, Tobias ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1568-767X, Severi, Gianluca, Hill, Lynette, Weijenberg, Matty P. ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1695-4768, Krebs, John, Tsilidis, Konstantinos K. and Chan, Doris S.M. ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0198-1897
Abstract:BACKGROUND: Sugar sweetened beverages (SSBs), artificially sweetened beverages (ASBs), and fruit and vegetable juices are consumed worldwide, yet their associations with cancer remain unclear. METHODS: Within World Cancer Research Fund International’s Global Cancer Update Programme (CUP Global), we conducted a systematic review by searching PubMed and Embase until September 2024 for cohort studies of SSBs, ASBs, and juices and cancer risk. Meta-analyses were conducted to calculate the relative risks (RRs) and 95% CIs per 1 serving/day (355 mL for SSBs/ASBs; 177 mL for juices). Evidence was graded by the CUP Global Expert Panel. The CUP Global standard protocol was registered at: https://osf.io/7utbm/. FINDINGS: We identified 158 publications from 51 cohorts. There was evidence of a probable causal positive association for SSBs, including carbonated SSBs, with pancreatic cancer incidence (RR 1.09 [95% CI 1.01–1.16]; I(2)=8%, n=18 studies), and for SSBs with colorectal cancer incidence (RR 1.07 [95% CI 1.00–1.14]; I(2)=41%, n=13). Limited suggestive evidence supported positive associations of SSBs with ovarian (RR 1.61 [95%CI 1.03–2.53]; I(2)=0%, n=2), endometrial (RR 1.21 [95%CI 1.03-1.42]; I(2)=0%, n=3), and postmenopausal breast cancer incidence (RR 1.05 [95%CI 1.00-1.10] ; I(2)=0%, n=6), and of carbonated ASBs with leukaemia incidence (RR 1.29 [95%CI 1.01-1.64]; I(2)=0%, n=2). There was evidence of a probable causal positive association for orange juice with different types of skin cancer including melanoma (RR 1.21 [95%CI 1.08-1.34]; I(2)=0%, n=4), and basal (RR 1.12 [95%CI 1.06-1.17]; I(2)=46%, n=2) and squamous cell carcinoma (RR 1.13 [95%CI 1.04-1.24]; I(2)=0%, n=2). An interactive evidence platform is available at: https://teacup.cc.ic.ac.uk/soft-drinks-cancer.html. INTERPRETATION: This review provides evidence supporting probable causal associations of SSBs with pancreatic and colorectal cancers, and of orange juice with skin cancers, with additional suggestive evidence for SSBs with other obesity-related cancers, extending concerns about sugary drink consumption beyond cardiometabolic health to cancer risk. FUNDING: World Cancer Research Fund network of charities (American Institute for Cancer Research; World Cancer Research Fund; Wereld Kanker Onderzoek Fonds).
Source:medRxiv
Publisher:Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press
Article Number:2026.06.22.26355879
Date:1 July 2026
Official Publication:https://doi.org/10.64898/2026.06.22.26355879

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