High Sugar-Sweetened Drink Intake Doubles Risk of Early-Onset Bowel Cancer in Women

Row of cans of carbonated sugary drinks

Key Findings From a Long-Term Study on Sugar Intake and Colorectal Cancer Risk

Drinking two or more sugar-sweetened beverages daily is linked to a doubling in the risk of bowel cancer before age 50, particularly in women, according to a study published in Gut Juornal.

Each additional daily serving of these drinks was associated with a 16% higher risk, increasing to 32% per serving during adolescence.

What is Early-Onset Bowel Cancer?

Alarming Rise in Younger Adults

Early-onset bowel cancer (also known as early-onset colorectal cancer) is diagnosed before the age of 50. Rates have been rising sharply in high-income countries, with U.S. adults born around 1990 facing:

  • 2x higher risk of colon cancer

  • 4x higher risk of rectal cancer

The exact causes for this trend remain unclear.

The Role of Sugar-Sweetened Beverages in Cancer Risk

What Are Sugar-Sweetened Beverages?

These include:

  • Soft drinks

  • Fruit-flavored beverages

  • Sports drinks

  • Energy drinks

They make up 39% of added sugar intake in U.S. diets. About 12% of Americans consume over three servings daily (8 oz each).

Previously Linked Health Risks

These drinks have already been associated with:

  • Obesity

  • Type 2 diabetes

  • Metabolic disorders

This new study raises concerns about their link to bowel cancer before mid-life.

Study Overview: Nurses’ Health Study II

Researchers analyzed data from 95,464 U.S. women, aged 25–42 at enrollment (1989), using:

  • Food frequency questionnaires (updated every 4 years)

  • Teenage consumption recall (from 41,272 women)

  • Lifestyle and health background

Key Results

  • 109 women developed early-onset bowel cancer during the 24-year study period.

  • Women drinking ≥2 servings/day had over 2x the risk of early-onset bowel cancer.

  • Teenagers consuming 1+ servings/day had a 32% higher risk in adulthood.

Healthier Alternatives May Reduce Risk

Potentially Protective Substitutes

Replacing sugar-sweetened drinks with the following was associated with 17% to 36% lower risk of a bowel cancer diagnosis before age 50:

  • Artificially sweetened beverages

  • Coffee

  • Semi-skimmed or whole milk

This is an observational study, and as such, it can’t establish cause, only correlation. And given that most participants were white women, the findings may not apply to men or other racial/ethnic groups, acknowledge the researchers.

Can Sugar Directly Increase Cancer Risk?

While the study is observational and cannot prove causation, researchers propose several biological mechanisms:

Why Sugar May Be Harmful

  • Suppresses satiety → promotes overeating and weight gain

  • Spikes blood glucose and insulin → long-term insulin resistance and inflammation

  • Fructose may impair gut barrier function → increases gut permeability, a possible factor in cancer development

Takeaway: Reduce Sugary Drink Intake to Protect Gut Health

Researchers conclude that cutting down on sugary beverages, especially during adolescence and early adulthood, could help lower the risk of early-onset bowel cancer.

“Reducing intake and/or substituting with healthier beverages may be a potential actionable strategy to alleviate the growing burden of bowel cancer before the age of 50.”

Want to Learn how to Reduce Sugar in your Diet? Check out our Guide to Healthier Beverage Choices

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