BEIJING, Nov. 9 (Xinhuanet) -- High sugar consumption
greatly increases the risk of pancreatic cancer, with consumers of carbonated
drinks at greatest risk, a Swedish study said Wednesday.
Researchers at the Karolinksa Institute started the
study on pancreatic cancer in 1997 by conducting a survey on the eating habits
of 80,000 men and women in the age group of 45 to 83.
This group was kept under observation till June 2005.
131 members of the group died of pancreatic cancer during this period.
Researchers found a link between the amount of sugar in the diet and the risk of
contracting the disease.
The group of people who said they drank fizzy, sugary
drinks twice a day or more ran a 90 percent higher risk of getting cancer of the
pancreas than those who never drank them.
The risk was 70 percent higher for those who added
sugar to their drinks about five times a day, and 50 percent for those eating
creamed fruit, a sugary, fruit-based Swedish dessert, at least once a day,
according to the research published in the American Journal of Clinical
Nutrition.
Scientists say the chances of developing pancreatic
cancer are relatively small, but this study is one of the first to show the risk
of this cancer is in fact related to the amount of sugar in the diet.
(Agencies)
