Sugary Beverages May Raise Your Risk of Liver Cancer

June 10, 2026
HealthDay Staff HealthDay Reporter

If you regularly drink soda or other sugary beverages, a new study may give you a reason to cut back.

Researchers analyzed dietary data from more than 1.5 million adults across 11 long-term investigations. They wanted to find out whether drinking sugar-sweetened or artificially sweetened beverages was associated with liver cancer risk.

Participants filled out food frequency questionnaires and were followed through state cancer registries or health surveys for an average of nearly 18 years.

The result: Higher intake of sugar-sweetened beverages was associated with an increased risk of two major liver cancer subtypes: hepatocellular carcinoma, or HCC, and intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma, known as ICC.

In contrast, intake of artificially sweetened beverages was not associated with liver cancer overall or with either subtype.

The study, led by Cody Watling of the National Cancer Institute, was published June 10 in JAMA Network Open.

While it does not prove that sugary drinks cause liver cancer, the authors say their findings add to growing evidence linking sugar-sweetened beverages to adverse long-term health outcomes.

More information

The American Heart Association has more on the health affects of sugar-sweetened beverages.

SOURCE: HealthDay TV, June 10, 2026

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