Can Soda Cause Esophageal Cancer?

Excess Soda Could Raise Esophageal Cancer Risk. Dear Mayo Clinic: Is there any connection between esophageal cancer and diet soda? Answer: The quick answer is no: there’s no direct connection between esophageal cancer and diet or regular soda.

They found that people who drank sugar-sweetened soda were at greater risk of developing obesity-related cancers than those who didn’t — no matter their body size. People who drank artificially-sweetened soft drinks weren’t found to be at risk, though researchers still say to be cautious. 2. Caramel-Colored Sodas Carry Increased Risk of Cancer

Betel and areca nuts have also been associated with the development of esophageal cancer. In China, foods high in nitrates may double the risk. The risk is also higher for those who have vitamin and mineral deficiencies (especially folate, vitamin C, and molybdenum) in developing countries.

Squamous cell carcinomas of the esophagus are roughly five times more common in people who smoke. 13  Smoking is not, however, a risk factor for esophageal cancer in all parts of the world. For example, in China, it appears that smoking plays only a small role; dietary factors appear more important.

Why is cancer of the esophagus so deadly?

It is often fatal because it is rarely diagnosed until the disease has become fairly advanced.

But Yale epidemiologist Susan Mayne, PhD, who led the study team, tells WebMD that other factors, such as leading a healthier lifestyle, may explain the observed protective effect among diet soda drinkers.

Diet soda drinkers were less likely to develop a specific type of esophageal cancer (esophageal adenocarcinoma) than people who didn‘t drink sodas as often or didn’t drink them at all, the study found.

He points out that there has actually been a decline in the incidence in another type of esophageal cancer — esophageal squamous cell disease — within the past few years. Major risk factors for this cancer include smoking and heavy alcohol consumption. “Fewer people are smoking and more are obese,” he says.

They found that the people without cancer drank more soft drinks on average than people who developed cancer. Those who drank the most fizzy beverages were no more likely to have developed esophageal cancer than those who drank the least.

High consumption of diet, but not regular, carbonated soft drinks was associated with a significant reduction in esophageal adenocarcinoma, the cancer type that is on the rise. “The theory that soft drinks could be causing this cancer was picked up by the media and widely disseminated,” Mayne says.

The research suggests that the biggest contributing factor may be the rise in obesity, which, in turn, may be leading to a rise in gastroesophageal reflux disease, also known as GERD. Acid reflux disease is a recognized risk factor for esophageal cancer.

What causes esophageal cancer?

Several risk factors for the disease have also been identified. 1  These vary depending on the type of cancer, with acid reflux (GERD), Barrett’s esophagus, and obesity linked with adenocarcinoma, and the combination of smoking and excess alcohol intake …

According to a 2015 review, people who are overweight (body mass index of 25 to 29) are about 50% more likely to develop cancer, while those who are obese (body mass index of 30 or higher) are roughly twice as likely to develop esophageal cancer.

30 . Though estimates vary, roughly 1 in 100 to 1 in 200 people with Barrett’s esophagus will develop esophageal cancer each year . Like adenocarcinoma, Barrett’s esophagus is increasing in …

A personal history of cancer is associated with a higher risk of esophageal cancer, particularly squamous cell carcinomas of the head, neck, and lungs. 20 .

Achalasia. Achalasia 18  is a condition in which the muscular band around the lower part of the esophagus (the lower esophageal sphincter) doesn’t relax properly to allow food to leave the esophagus and enter the stomach. This results in food remaining in and stretching the lower esophagus. Achalasia is associated with a high risk …

12  This region includes areas such as Turkey, Iran, Kazakhstan, and central and northern China. The incidence is also very high in southeastern Africa.

13  Smoking is not, however, a risk factor for esophageal cancer in all parts of the world. For example, in China, it appears that smoking plays only a small role; dietary factors appear more important.