Like drinking soda? Think again...

[Nebu]

I thought I'd post this as a public service.  Being that most gamers consume above average amounts of soda, I thought I'd pass along some information I saw this morning while getting caught up on my journal reading. The finding is reported in the February issue of Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention. (Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev. 2010;19;447-455.)

February 16, 2010 - Abstract

The regular consumption of sugar-laden soft drinks could boost a person's risk of developing pancreatic cancer. The results of a new study found that individuals who consumed 2 or more soft drinks per week had an 87% increased risk for pancreatic cancer, compared with those who did not.

Even after taking factors such as smoking, caloric intake, and type 2 diabetes mellitus into account, the authors found that consuming soft drinks might play an independent role in the development of pancreatic cancer.

Both soft drinks and fruit juices have a high glycemic load relative to other foods and drinks, and it has been hypothesized that both are risk factors for pancreatic cancer. The high levels of sugar can increase levels of insulin in the body, and this can contribute to pancreatic cancer cell growth, the researchers explain.

Some of the text...

Results Statistically Significant for Soft Drinks

The current study examined the association between the consumption of soft drinks and juice and the risk for pancreatic cancer among Chinese people residing in Singapore. The data came from the Singapore Chinese Health Study (n = 60,524), and information regarding the consumption of soft drinks, juice, and other dietary items, along with lifestyle factors and environmental exposures, was collected at recruitment to the study. The participants were followed for up to 14 years.

At the start of the study, 9.7% of the participants consumed at least 2 soft drinks per week and 10.2% consumed at least 2 servings of juice per week. The authors note that, compared with those who did not consume soft drinks, those who consumed 2 or more soft drinks per week were younger, were more likely to be men, and were more likely to smoke cigarettes. They also had higher levels of education, alcohol consumption, and total energy intake; lower levels of physical activity; and consumed more total carbohydrates, fat, added sugar, and red meat.

Individuals who reported consuming 2 or more juice drinks a week had lifestyle and dietary habits that were similar to those who consumed soft drinks. However, there was no association between juice intake and cigarette smoking, and body mass index (BMI) was comparable across different categories of soft drink and juice consumption.

At 14 years and a cumulative 648,387 person-years of follow-up, 140 incident pancreatic cancers developed in people who were cancer free at baseline. After adjustment for confounders such as BMI, type 2 diabetes mellitus, and fruit juice intake, the authors found that those consuming 2 or more soft drinks per week experienced a statistically significant increased risk for pancreatic cancer (hazard ratio , 1.87; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.10 - 3.15).

Although people who consumed 2 or more juice drinks a week had an increased risk for pancreatic cancer of approximately 30%, elevated HR was not statistically significant after adjustment for variables.

However, in an age-adjusted analysis, smoking was also a risk factor. After excluding former smokers, the authors found that current smokers had a 49% increased risk for pancreatic cancer, compared with never smokers (HR, 1.49; 95% CI, 0.98 - 2.27). This risk factor remained unaffected after adjustment for diabetes and BMI.

Can Be Extrapolated to United States and Europe

Singapore is a highly industrialized nation with lifestyle and nutritional patterns reminiscent of many westernized countries. In that sense, these findings could be extrapolated to the United States and Europe, explained Mr. Mueller. Soft drinks are the leading source of added sugar in the American diet, the authors note.

"However, there are inherent differences between Singaporean Chinese and Caucasians, which is why one must be cautious when generalizing these results to the United States and Europe," he said. "But it is important to note that other studies in Caucasian populations have suggested that soft drink intake may increase risk for pancreatic cancer."

Because pancreatic cancer is a relatively rare disease, the number of cases in this study was relatively small, the authors point out. This limited the statistical power of the study. Another limitation was the inability to collect repeated dietary measurements during the course of the study; therefore, they could not account for changes in consumption of soft drinks and juices.

However, this study adds to the evidence that soft drink consumption plays a role in the development of pancreatic cancer, they conclude, and that "clinical studies examining biomarkers for glycemia and insulinemia and taking a mechanistic approach to the question of soft drink consumption and pancreatic cancer are warranted."

There is "still much to understand on the link between sugar-sweetened beverages and pancreatic cancer," the authors write.

The study was supported by a grant from the National Cancer Institute. The researchers have disclosed no relevant financial relationships.

[Mrbloodworth]

Do they make a distinction between sugar and HFCS? Or is that irrelevant in this case? I would also like to know if they made a distinction between fruit juice (100% not from concentrate) and or "Juice drinks" (Typically from concentrate, 10% juice and a ton of HFCS or sugar water)

I cut out about 98% of my soda intake and try to watch my HFCS in take (its god dam in everything) and drink a lot of whole juices.

EDIT: I also see you added more.

[Nebu]

Do they make a distinction between sugar and HFCS? Or is that irrelevant in this case?

I'm looking... but am not sure.  Being that the source was Singapore, I'd have to assume sucrose. 

Study Highlights

    * The Singapore Chinese Health Study is a population-based, prospective cohort study of diet and cancer risk conducted in permanent residents from government-built housing estates where 86% of the population resided.
    * This study involved 2 dialect groups: the Hokkien and Cantonese originating from the southern part of China.
    * Participants were men and women aged 45 to 74 years without preexisting pancreatic cancer.
    * Recruitment was by letter, and staff went from door to door inviting participation with each subject.
    * A trained interviewer then interviewed the participants face-to-face using a structured scanner-readable questionnaire.
    * The interviewer asked subjects about demographics, lifestyle, diet, and medical history.
    * Diet was elicited with a semiquantitative 165-item food frequency questionnaire.
    * The questionnaire included commonly eaten food from Singapore, with 3 portion sizes and frequency in 8 categories ranging from never or hardly ever to 6 or more times daily.
    * Photographs of foods were presented to identify the food groups.
    * The questionnaire was validated against 24-hour recall in at least 1000 participants.
    * Soft drink portions were defined as 1 glass.
    * 1 glass was designated as 237 mL and was equivalent to 1 cup.
    * Juices were categorized into specific drinks that included sugarcane, honeydew melon, apple, watermelon, carrot, pineapple, star fruit, and lemon juices.
    * The Singapore Food Composition Table was developed to analyze the nutritional content of food types.
    * Other risk factors for pancreatic cancer were assessed, including BMI, smoking, and physical activity.
    * Pancreatic cancer cases were ascertained by linkage to the population-based cancer registry and registry of births and deaths.
    * 142 incident cases were identified, of which 56.4% were histologically confirmed, 38.8% were by clinical and radiologic findings, and 4.8% were identified by death certificates.
    * Rate of loss to follow-up was only 0.03%.
    * Mean age was 56 years, 55% were women, mean BMI was 23 kg/m2, 30% were ever-smokers, and 10% had type 2 diabetes.
    * At baseline, 9.7% of participants consumed at least 2 soft drinks per week and 10.2% consumed at least 2 servings of juice per week.
    * Those who consumed 2 or more soft drinks or juices weekly were likely to be younger, men, smoke, have higher levels of education, consume alcohol, and have higher energy intake and lower physical activity vs those who consumed no soft drinks or juices.
    * They also had a higher consumption of total carbohydrates, sugar, and red meat.
    * After 14 years and 648,387 person-years of follow-up, invasive exocrine pancreatic cancer developed in 140 persons .
    * Smokers had a 49% increased risk for pancreatic cancer.
    * BMI and a history of diabetes were not associated with an increased risk for pancreatic cancer.
    * Results for all risks were similar for men and women, and analysis was combined for the 2 sexes.
    * Drinking 2 or more soft drinks per week was associated with more than 80% increase in risk for pancreatic cancer after adjustment for other risks (HR, 1.87).
    * This risk was independent of diabetes and smoking and persisted after excluding those who had pancreatic cancer within 5 years of baseline.
    * After adjustment, juice intake of 2 or more drinks per week overall was not associated with increased risk, but when smokers were excluded, there was an association between juice intake and pancreatic cancer risk (HR, 1.60).
    * The authors concluded that soft drink consumption was positively associated with pancreatic cancer risk but that juice consumption was associated with risk among nonsmokers only.

[Sjofn]

So if I drink a lot of juice, I should take up smoking? 

[Hutch]

So 140 out of "at least 1000 participants" got cancer? And their mean age was 56 to begin with? So at the end of the study, the mean age was 70. So they weren't too far off from dying of heart failure, lung disease (for the smokers), or whatever else kills off old people who don't get cancer.

At any rate, if their hypothesis holds out, I've already killed myself. (Or my pancreas, at any rate.) I consume more than their weekly allotment of juice and/or pop on an almost daily basis.

[Draegan]

The only soda I drink, which may be once or twice a month is Stewart's Diet Rootbeer.  Phew!

[Sky]

I get my cancer from phenylalanine, not sugar 

[01101010]

Like everything else.... its bad, its good, its bad, its good. Fuck you, I like my Dr. Pepper and I am going to drink it. Besides, I am so far in debt - dying young would mean I win!

[Kail]

Oh, goddammit!  I just had to click this while I was making a Dr. Pepper ice cream float.  Fortunately, I hate life, so it's no big deal.

[Nebu]

I didn't mean this to be a downer or anything.  I just thought it would be informative.  We're all going to die of something.  Enjoy the life you have!

[Morat20]

Oh, goddammit!  I just had to click this while I was making a Dr. Pepper ice cream float.  Fortunately, I hate life, so it's no big deal.

Got to buy ice cream and Dr. Pepper on the way home......

[Salamok]

I get my cancer from phenylalanine, not sugar 

Yes where is the study on drinking 10 cans of diet soda a day? 

[Goreschach]

Well, it's a good thing we found out about this when we did. Just think of all those poor souls who have been drinking sugary drinks for the past couple thousand years and dying in their prime from this unknown plague. It was a close one, and civilization was almost wiped out, but it looks like we've narrowly avoided the next doomsday yet again.

[rattran]

Don't shit up the thread.

I cut out soda a couple years ago, I don't miss it. I do have the occasional juice or energy drink, but mostly I just drink coffee or water.

[Xurtan]

I cut out soda a couple years ago, I don't miss it. I do have the occasional juice or energy drink, but mostly I just drink coffee or water.

This. Give me unsweetened tea over soda any day; that stuff is just nasty. Coke makes me feel like something died in my mouth. I do however, have a deep abiding love for Ginger Ale. Once a month won't kill me though. 

[schild]

Diet Sodas and Energy drinks here. Once every once in a while I get a sucralose energy drink (Monster Import) and I use splenda/stevia in Coffee. This seems to not apply to me.

[Signe]

I like ginger ale once in a while, too.  Sugarless, though.  I still have clear sugarless or orange soda sometimes.  Mainly, however, I make myself iced tea when I want something cold.  We put in a filter so tap water is nice again, too.  I love strong black coffee and I could drink all day long but I don't.  I miss the days I did, though.  Once in a while I get some light cranberry juice and the odd sugarless lemonade.  I don't drink any other fruit juice at all.   I don't have very much sugar in my diet but I'm a bit nuts for salty stuff and savory stuff like nuts or popcorn.  Of course, that makes me thirsty.  Every thing in the world is a vicious circle!  It's not fair.  There's all my suggestions for beverages if anyone wants to cut down on soda.  I'm sure most of them will give you cancer eventually.  

[Xuri]

Eh. We're all going to die of something. Might as well be from something I like. *drinks another soda*

[Abagadro]

Confirming yet again tha one should only drink grain alcohol and rain water.

[Evildrider]

I wonder if they took into consideration that all those people were also breathing.  I hear breathing causes cancer.  Maybe we should all stop. 

[LK]

There are so many things that can kill you. You avoid one thing, you encourage another. Just do what you love that isn't blatantly harmful, unless you don't give a shit (smoking).

[Minvaren]

Study Highlights

    * Those who consumed 2 or more soft drinks or juices weekly were likely to be younger, men, smoke, have higher levels of education, consume alcohol, and have higher energy intake and lower physical activity vs those who consumed no soft drinks or juices.
    * They also had a higher consumption of total carbohydrates, sugar, and red meat.

That pretty much sums up the study right there, even after the control for smoking.

As for myself - I'd probably lose a couple of pounds if I ditched the A&W, but drinking water (or anything) all the time gets a bit old.

[Strazos]

I've been drinking tons of Tropicana/Dole stuff with breakfast/lunch lately at work, but end up drinking soda if I go out for happy hour shit.

Mostly just water at home, except when I happen to see the Throwback Mountain Dew at the store...that stuff is delicious.

[Khaldun]

I knew there was a reason I preferred wine.

[caladein]

Confirming yet again tha one should only drink grain alcohol and rain water.

[stray]

Is this a sugar prob or a hf corn syrup problem? Because it's pretty f'in rare to even come across sugar these days...


That said, I'm a very moderate soda drinker. Not even one a week sometimes. I find it's awesome after a fairly meaty/hearty meal. Especially 7 up.. I drink it for the fizz.

[Salamok]

I've been drinking 50+ diet sodas a week for about 2 decades now, pretty sure I am screwed.  I actually wouldn't mind switching to something else but I don't care for water enough to want more than a glass or 2 a day and everything else I have tried drinking in that quantity made me feel like shit (tea, crystal light, various juices).  

edit: I have made a small concession in the last few years by limiting my caffeinated sodas to the morning (usually 2).

edit2:  I've also found when trying to switch to non-carbonated stuff that I drink it much faster and my daily intake goes way up so instead of 120oz of soda I would drink 200oz of tea/water/juice/flavored drink.

[Righ]

The study suggests that older Chinese men living in Singapore have a higher risk of pancreatic cancer if they drink soda. They probably get to die of pancreatic cancer from something else because the local water supply or vast amounts of palm oil in their food doesn't kill them first. ;)

(yes, I'm being facetious, but it is worth bearing in mind that this study was done on a population that has a radically different diet and lifestyle to us)

I suspect that of more immediate concern to American soda drinkers (and cookie eaters, ketchup users, etc) is the shocking acceptance of much higher levels of mercury in HFCS than in other food. Death may be preferable to some of the other potential effects.

[stray]

Singapore is pretty upscale though. Close to Japan/Korea. Everyone's pretty rich, even when they say they aren't. I'm sure their water is fine. Want to rag on water supplies, feel free to use anything else in SE Asia :D

[Johny Cee]

edit2:  I've also found when trying to switch to non-carbonated stuff that I drink it much faster and my daily intake goes way up so instead of 120oz of soda I would drink 200oz of tea/water/juice/flavored drink.

Um?  That may be a question for your doctor at your next checkup....  excessive water/fluid drinking could indicate a mental or medical illness.

[Mosesandstick]

Singaporean water is fairly clean, and boiling or purifying your tap water before drinking is pretty common.

[Righ]

Singapore is pretty upscale though. Close to Japan/Korea. Everyone's pretty rich, even when they say they aren't. I'm sure their water is fine. Want to rag on water supplies, feel free to use anything else in SE Asia :D

Admittedly my first-hand experience is somewhat old since I haven't lived there for nearly 40 years, but they have a huge proportion of recycled water used as drinking water. As with any other developed nation that uses primarily recycled waste water to produce potable water, you get free anti-depressants, hormones and other pharmaceuticals with your tap water and most of that doesn't simply boil off.

[Signe]

Didn't everyone get rich in Singapore when they did away with the poverty line and bustled all the homeless off to the bus station?  We should do that, too!  I heard that most of the homeless snuck back in but are out of sight because they live under the Formula 1 grandstand. 

[Lantyssa]

Really?  I thought they were the ones in the grandstands...

[Salamok]

edit2:  I've also found when trying to switch to non-carbonated stuff that I drink it much faster and my daily intake goes way up so instead of 120oz of soda I would drink 200oz of tea/water/juice/flavored drink.

Um?  That may be a question for your doctor at your next checkup....  excessive water/fluid drinking could indicate a mental or medical illness.

I'd say mental, it is just a really bad habit that I need to have a drink at hand when coding.  Sort of a mini reward system, code a block then sit back and review what I just did while taking a few sips.