Sugary Drinks May Increase Risk of Endometrial Cancer

Endometrial cancer claims the lives of about 8000 women in the US annually. In 2023 alone, around 66,000 women will be diagnosed with uterine cancer, and around 10,000 will die as a result. Cancer of the endometrium, the lining of the uterus, make up 90 percent of these cases.

The number has been increasing and it is still the fourth most common type of cancer in women. Endometrial cancer is also the most common type of cancer of the female reproductive tract, but it usually affects women of older age.

Research has shown that obesity increases the risk of developing endometrial cancer up to ten times. Since recent studies link obesity to the regular consumption of sugar sweetened beverages (SSB) or sugary drinks, researchers wondered if this habit could be a factor in the increasing number of women suffering from this disease.

What is Endometrial Cancer?

The uterus has an inner lining of cells called the endometrium. An abnormal or malignant proliferation of cells in this layer of cells can develop in a condition called endometrial cancer, otherwise known as uterine cancer, or cancer of the uterus.

Endometrial cancer is most commonly associated with a hormonal imbalance, where estrogen is increased and progesterone is decreased. This condition is called type 1 endometrial cancer. A less common type of uterine cancer is the estrogen-independent or type 2 endometrial cancer.

Hormonal imbalance is common among women over the age of 50, most of whom are postmenopausal women. It is therefore no wonder that endometrial cancer is more common among these women than those younger than 50. Endometrial cancer has also been found to be more common among obese women. Since fat cells produce extra estrogen but do not make progesterone, a hormonal imbalance can result can result from extra fat stores.

Other risk factors associated with endometrial cancer include estrogen intake without progestin intake, use of tamoxifen (hormonal treatment for breast cancer), and having a history of early menstruation and late menopause. Women who have never given birth or breastfed and younger women who have a condition called Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) have also been found to be at risk for uterine cancer.

Common symptoms of endometrial cancer include vaginal bleeding not related to menstruation, pelvic pain, painful urination, and pain during sex.

Obesity and Endometrial Cancer

In addition, an increased level of the hormone insulin, which is common in obese individuals, has also been linked to PCOS, another risk factor for endometrial cancer in pre- and post-menopausal women. Insulin is a hormone produced by the body in response to high sugar levels in the blood after eating.

Many studies suggest that obesity is a risk factor involved in many diseases and various types of cancer, including endometrial cancer. Reviews of epidemiological studies demonstrate that the incidence of endometrial cancer is ten times higher in Western countries, where obesity rates are also high. One study suggests that chronic inflammation in the cells, which is associated with obesity, may be another mechanism which can explain the development of tumors in the body, including in the uterus.

See Also : Endometrial Cancer Risk Factors, Symptoms and Treatment

These findings suggest that the same nutrition and lifestyle factors that lead to obesity may also impact a person's odds of developing other serious diseases such as endometrial cancer. This has also led scientists to look into specific factors, such as excessive consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages such as soda and ice tea, which is often linked to weight gain and obesity.

Sugar Sweetened Beverages, Obesity And Cancer

Several lifestyle and nutritional factors are now being linked to the development of a body mass index (BMI) indicative of obesity. Among these factors are the consumption of a diet rich in carbohydrates and fat, lack of physical activity, cigarette smoking, and more.

The relationship between a number of lifestyle factors and endometrial cancer was recently evaluated by scientists who examined data drawn from the Iowa Women's Health Study, which was conducted from 1986 to 2010. This study, which was recently published in the journal Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers and Prevention, involved more than 23,000 postmenopausal women, ages 55 to 69 years.

The researchers asked the participants about their level of physical activity, smoking history, use of estrogen hormone, alcohol intake, and their diet, among other things during the last 12 months. They also asked about the participants' frequency of consumption of popular sugary beveerages like Coke and Pepsi, sugar-free drinks, lemonade, and other beverages, sweets and other baked goods, fruits and vegetables, meat, and other foods in the diet.

While previous studies have already suggested a possible association between obesity and endometrial cancer, this study reveals more. The researchers led by Maki Inoue-Choi, M.S from the University of Minnesota found that postmenopausal women who most frequently consumed sugary drinks were almost 80 percent more likely to develop endometrial cancer compared to those who reported the least consumption, regardless of their body weight, physical activity levels, and other lifestyle factors. Women who eventually developed type 1 endometrial cancer (more than 500) had the highest consumption of sugary beverages. However, a similar association was not found in participants who developed type 2 endometrial cancer.

Sugary Drinks Increase Endometrial Cancer Risk

Sugary drinks like popular sodas, fruit juices and other carbonated and non-carbonated drinks are the leading sources of added sugars in the typical American diet. Compared to sugars found in whole foods such as fruits and vegetables, the sugars found in these beverages are more easily metabolized and absorbed by the body, leading to rapid increases in blood sugar and insulin levels very quickly. Frequent consumption therefore of these beverages can result in type 2 diabetes and obesity. A comprehensive review of literature conducted by the 2007 World Cancer Research Fund/American Institute for Cancer Research (WCRF/AICR) showed that SSB intake plays a significant role in obesity, which is linked to endometrial cancer. These findings were supported by recent research, although more evidence must be gathered to make more binding conclusions and to find out the exact mechanisms involved in the process of developing the disease.

See Also : Are Diet Soft Drinks Really Healthy For You?

A high intake of sugary beverages is often associated with other unhealthy habits such as eating foods that are high in carbohydrates and low in nutritional value and physical inactivity. Since it has been found that these popular drinks can lead to many serious health problems, some schools and other institutions have taken action to reduce the consumption of sugary drinks. Measures are also being taken to lower the incidence of obesity even among people in younger age groups.