A large new study has found that women who regularly drink sugary beverages like soft drinks and sweetened juices have a much higher risk of developing oral cavity cancer (OCC), a type of mouth cancer.
The research, published in JAMA Otolaryngology – Head & Neck Surgery, suggests that cutting back on these drinks could help lower cancer risk, even for women who don’t smoke or drink alcohol.
The study was led by Luis Gomez-Castillo and his team at the University of Washington School of Medicine in Seattle. It used data from two long-running health studies in the U.S.: the Nurses’ Health Study and the Nurses’ Health Study II. These studies have followed thousands of female nurses for decades, collecting detailed information on their diet, lifestyle, and health.
In total, the researchers looked at health data from 162,602 women over a period of 30 years. During that time, they found 124 cases of invasive oral cavity cancer. They then looked at how much sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) the women were drinking and compared cancer risk between those who drank a lot and those who drank very little.
The findings were striking. Women who consumed one or more sugary drinks per day had nearly five times the risk of developing mouth cancer compared to women who drank less than one sugary drink per month.
To put this in perspective, that’s about five women per 100,000 getting the disease compared to two per 100,000 among low-SSB consumers—an increase of three extra cases per 100,000 people.
The link was even stronger in women who didn’t smoke or drink much alcohol—two major known risk factors for oral cancer. Among these women, high SSB consumption was linked to a 5.5 times higher risk of mouth cancer. This suggests that sugary drinks alone can significantly increase cancer risk, even in people who avoid other major risks.
Oral cavity cancer affects the inside of the mouth, including the tongue, gums, and the inner lining of the cheeks. It can be aggressive and may require surgery, radiation, or chemotherapy. Known risk factors include tobacco use, alcohol consumption, poor oral hygiene, and certain viral infections like HPV. Now, this study adds sugary drinks to the list of possible contributors.
Sugar-sweetened beverages include sodas, sweetened teas, energy drinks, fruit punches, and other drinks with added sugar. These drinks are already linked to several health problems, including obesity, type 2 diabetes, and heart disease. Now, this new study suggests they may also play a role in the development of certain cancers.
While the overall number of oral cancer cases in the study was relatively small, the strong link to sugary drink intake raises concerns, especially since these beverages are widely consumed. The results support public health efforts to limit sugar intake, such as soda taxes, warning labels, and public education campaigns.
In their conclusion, the researchers said the study offers further support for policies aimed at reducing sugar consumption to improve health and prevent chronic diseases, including cancer.
Review and Analysis of the Study
This is one of the first large studies to look at the long-term effects of sugar-sweetened beverages on oral cancer risk in women. The findings are important for several reasons:
- Strong association: Even after accounting for smoking and alcohol use, sugary drinks alone were linked to a much higher risk of oral cancer.
- Broad relevance: Since sugary drinks are common worldwide, this study’s findings apply to a large number of people—not just those with other high-risk habits.
- Public health implications: The study supports stronger health recommendations and policies to reduce sugar intake, which could help lower cancer risk alongside other health benefits.
However, the study also has limits. It only included women, so the results might not apply to men in the same way. Also, the number of cancer cases was small, which can make results less certain. Still, the 30-year follow-up and large participant group give the findings weight.
In summary, this study provides new and important evidence that sugary drinks may raise the risk of mouth cancer in women, even in those who don’t smoke or drink. Cutting back on these drinks could be a simple and effective way to improve long-term health.
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The research findings can be found in JAMA Otolaryngology–Head & Neck Surgery.
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