Once in 5 years, the American Cancer Society publishes its updated guidelines on nutrition and physical activity in the context of cancer prevention [1]. Among the detailed advice is the following quote: ‘Limit consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages such as soft drinks, sports drinks, and fruit-flavored drinks.’ How this general phrasing relates to specific cancer types is discussed below, and a recent study serves as a good starting point [2]. The investigators evaluated the impact of dietary intake of sugary foods and beverages, as well as added sugar and total sugar on endometrial cancer risk in a population-based, case-control study, including 424 cases and 398 controls. Participants completed an interview and food frequency questionnaire and provided self-recorded waist and hip measurements. Women in the highest quartile of added sugar intake had significantly increased endometrial cancer risk (OR 1.84, 95% CI 1.16–2.92). Among women with waist-to-hip ratio ≥ 0.85, risk was significantly higher for the highest versus lowest tertile of added sugar intakes (OR 2.50, 95% CI 1.38–4.52). The association with added sugar also became stronger when analyses were restricted to never users of hormone replacement therapy (OR 2.03, 95% CI 1.27–3.26, for highest versus lowest tertile). There was little evidence of effect modification by body mass index or physical activity.
Author(s)
-
Amos Pines
Department of Medicine T, Ichilov Hospital, Tel-Aviv, Israel
Citations
-
. Kushi LH, Doyle C, McCullough M, et al. American Cancer Society Guidelines on nutrition and physical activity for cancer prevention: reducing the risk of cancer with healthy food choices and physical activity. CA Cancer J Clin 2012;62:30-67.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22237782 -
King MG, Chandran U, Olson SH, et al. Consumption of sugary foods and drinks and risk of endometrial cancer. Cancer Causes Control. 2013 May 9. Epub ahead of print
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23657460 -
Arcidiacono B, Iiritano S, Nocera A, et al. Insulin resistance and cancer risk: an overview of the pathogenetic mechanisms. Exp Diabetes Res 2012;2012:789174.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22701472 -
Hunn J, Rodriguez GC. Ovarian cancer: etiology, risk factors, and epidemiology. Clin Obstet Gynecol 2012;55:3-23.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22343225 -
King MG, Olson SH, Paddock L, et al. Sugary food and beverage consumption and epithelial ovarian cancer risk: a population-based case-control study. BMC Cancer 2013;13:94.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23442818 -
Silvera SA, Jain M, Howe GR, Miller AB, Rohan TE. Energy balance and breast cancer risk: a prospective cohort study. Breast Cancer Res Treat 2006;97:97-106.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16319973 -
Holman DM, White MC. Dietary behaviors related to cancer prevention among pre-adolescents and adolescents: the gap between recommendations and reality. Nutr J 2011;10:60.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21631948
