Diet Soda Reduces Colon Cancer?

Diet soda may reduce the risk of recurrence and mortality in colon cancer, according to a study published in PLOS One. 

A team of researchers from the Yale Cancer Center found that among 1,018 patients with late-stage colon cancer, those who drank one or more 12-ounce servings of artificially sweetened beverages (including caffeinated colas, caffeine-free colas, and other carbonated beverages) per day had a 46% improvement in risk of cancer recurrence or death, compared with those who did not (hazard ratio = 0.54; 95% CI 0.36 to 0.80; P=0.004). Increasing artificially sweetened beverage intake was also associated with a significant improvement in recurrence-free survival (P=0.005) and overall survival (P=0.02). 

Participants completed nutrition questionnaires about consumption of more than 130 different foods and drinks, and investigators tracked colon cancer recurrence and mortality rates for close to 7 years. 

“Artificially sweetened drinks have a checkered reputation in the public because of purported health risks that have never really been documented,” said senior author Charles S. Fuchs, MD. “Our study clearly shows they help avoid cancer recurrence and death in patients who have been treated for advanced colon cancer, and that is an exciting finding.” 

The researchers noted that the correlation between soft drinks and reduced colon cancer recurrence and mortality is unknown and additional studies are needed to confirm the findings. 

Read more from the researchers.  

Read more about how colon cancer is on the rise in young adults. 

Source: Cancer