A 30-year longitudinal cohort study analyzing 162,602 women from the Nurses’ Health Study and Nurses’ Health Study II found a strong association between high sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) intake and increased oral cavity cancer (OCC) risk, even in nonsmokers and light drinkers. Women consuming at least one SSB daily had a 4.87 times higher risk (95% CI, 2.47-9.60) of OCC compared to those consuming fewer than one SSB per month, corresponding to an increase of 3 additional cases per 100,000 individuals. Notably, elevated risk was observed across both tongue and nontongue OCC subsites. The study addresses a critical gap in OCC etiology, suggesting a possible role of chronic inflammation and metabolic dysregulation from high sugar intake in cancer development. Further research is needed to validate these findings, particularly in broader and male populations.

Source:  JAMA Otolaryngology–Head & Neck Surgery