Soda warning: High sugar intake linked to pancreatic cancer

http://www.newstarget.com/z021031.html

Originally published November 9 2006
Soda warning: High sugar intake linked to pancreatic cancer
(NewsTarget) On Wednesday, research was released from the Karolinska
Institute in Sweden that showed people who drink soft drinks or add sugar to
their coffee increase their risk of developing pancreatic cancer.
The researchers studied the diets of nearly 80,000 men and women between
1997 and 2005. Of those, 131 developed cancer of the pancreas. The group of
people who reported drinking sodas or syrup-based drinks twice a day or more
were 90 percent more likely to develop pancreatic cancer than those who did
not consume such beverages; people who added sugar to their drinks about
five times a day were 70 percent more likely to contract the disease; and
those who consumed the popular Swedish sugary dessert known as creamed fruit
were at a 50 percent increased risk for the cancer, according to the results
published in the American Jounral of Clinical Nutrition.

"The researchers have now been able to show that the risk of developing
pancreatic cancer is related to the amount of sugar in the diet," said a
statement released by the institute.

"Despite the fact that the chances of developing pancreatic cancer are
relatively small, it's important to learn more about the risk factors behind
the disease," said researcher Susanna Larsson.

Pancreatic cancer is one of the most deadly forms of the disease, and is
notoriously difficult to treat because it usually does not get diagnosed
until it has spread beyond the pancreas. About 216,000 new cases of the
cancer are diagnosed each year, mostly in developed countries and mostly in
people older than 60.

"It is perhaps the most serious form of cancer, with very poor prognoses for
its victims," Larsson said. "Since it's difficult to treat and is often
discovered too late, it's particularly important that we learn to prevent
it."

"Pancreatic cancer is just one more serious health danger that comes from
drinking soft drinks and sugar-laden beverages," said Mike Adams, a health
advocate and author of "The Five Soft Drink Monsters." "In both Europe and
the United States, these drinks are contributing, not only to cancer, but
also to the spreading obesity epidemic and the subsequent increase in type 2
diabetes cases.

"The path to true health does not include any refined sugars whatsoever,
least of all from 'sugar water' or sweetened juice drinks," he said.