Women who drink at least one sugary beverage daily may be nearly five times more likely to develop oral cancer, according to a new study from the University of Washington. Published in JAMA Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, the research highlights a potential dietary risk factor for a disease that is rising among young, non-smoking women.
Traditionally, oral cavity cancer has been associated with older men who smoke, drink alcohol, or chew betel nut. However, with smoking rates declining, researchers have observed an increasing number of cases in people without these risk factors—particularly younger white women. In 2020 alone, over 355,000 new cases of oral cancer were reported worldwide, leading to nearly 177,000 deaths.
Dietary Risk Factor Identified
While sugary drinks have previously been linked to colorectal and gastrointestinal cancers, this study is the first to explore their potential role in head and neck cancers. The researchers found a significant association between high consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages and oral cancer, even in women considered low-risk due to their lifestyle habits.
Lead author Dr. Brittany Barber, an assistant professor of otolaryngology at the University of Washington School of Medicine, emphasized the importance of these findings. “Oral cavity cancer is less common than breast or colon cancer, but its incidence is increasing in non-smoking, non-drinking women,” she noted.
The exact reason behind this trend remains unclear. Human papillomavirus (HPV), a common sexually transmitted infection linked to throat cancer, has been ruled out as a cause. Researchers believe diet may play a larger role than previously thought and call for further studies to understand how sugar impacts cancer development.
With oral cancer cases rising in younger individuals without traditional risk factors, scientists stress the need for increased awareness and dietary caution.
