How sugary drinks help colorectal cancer spread

When it comes to beverages, I usually stick with water or unsweetened green or black tea.

But every now and then, I find myself craving the sweet taste and fizzy mouthfeel of soda. So I’ll cave and have one, thinking the occasional indulgence won’t hurt me.

Turns out I could be dead wrong…

One soda equals trouble

Let’s start with how much sugar I’m consuming. One 12-ounce can of soda contains 10 teaspoons, or 42 grams, of added sugar. That’s nearly double the recommended daily amount for women (six teaspoons, or 25 grams) and more than the total daily amount for men (nine teaspoons, or 36 grams).

That means every time I drink one can of soda, I’m exceeding the amount of added sugar I’m supposed to have that day. And if I grab a 20-oz bottle, it’s even worse.

Plus, because there’s no fiber to slow my body’s absorption, all that sugar hits my system at once. This can cause a spike in blood sugar that increases my risk of insulin resistance, a condition that can lead to obesity and diabetes, among other metabolic issues.

Overconsumption of added sugars has been linked to other health problems as well, including cardiovascular conditions like high blood pressure, heart attack and stroke — as well as one of the scariest diagnoses you can receive…

Sugary drinks and colorectal cancer

Sugar has long been indirectly linked to higher cancer risk through obesity. But a team led by researchers at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center found in a previous study that even moderate intake of sugary drinks such as soda directly fueled tumor growth in early-stage colorectal cancer — and this growth took place independent of obesity.

In a new study, they sought to see how consumption of sugary drinks affected late-stage colorectal cancer. Using laboratory cancer models, they compared the effects of a glucose-fructose mix found in most sodas and fruit juices with those of glucose or fructose alone.

The findings were startling. Only the glucose-fructose mix made cancer cells more mobile, leading to faster spread of the cancer to the liver. This is the most common site of colorectal cancer metastasis, which is the leading cause of death in patients with the disease.

The sugar mix activated an enzyme called sorbitol dehydrogenase (SORD), which boosts glucose metabolism and triggers the cholesterol pathway, ultimately driving cancer spread. This is the pathway targeted by statins, common heart drugs used to inhibit cholesterol production.

Interestingly, blocking SORD slowed metastasis, even with the sugar mix present. This suggests targeting SORD could possibly keep colorectal cancer from spreading.

Because these are laboratory findings, more study is needed to confirm the results. Still, MD Anderson professor Dr. Jihye Yun notes, the findings emphasize the importance of daily diet in both cancer risk and cancer progression.

“While these findings need further investigation, they suggest that reducing sugary drinks, targeting SORD or repurposing statins may benefit patients with colorectal cancer,” says Yun, who led the research team.

Soda isn’t the only culprit

Yun also says it may be worthwhile to consider revisions to current dietary guidelines to reduce sugary drink consumption in patients with colorectal cancer. These include nutritional supplement drinks and concentrated juices with high glucose and fructose content, which cancer patients are often encouraged to consume to meet their nutritional needs.

In general, research has deemed sweetened beverages one of the worst ultra-processed foods you can consume, with clear links to accelerated aging, liver cancer, diabetes and heart disease as well.

So, it’s a good idea to steer clear of them, cancer or not.

If you think artificial sweeteners and sugar alcohols are an option, think again. Some of the most popular are linked to blood clots.

Water with fruit, or infused water, can be a flavorful and safe option. For tips on creating flavorful waters to enjoy, check out these tips.

Sources:

Sugary drinks may increase risk of metastasis in advanced colorectal cancer — EurekAlert!

Fructose and glucose from sugary drinks enhance colorectal cancer metastasis via SORD — Nature Metabolism

How Much Sugar Is Too Much? — American Heart Association