Study Finds No Link Between Coffee, Soft Drinks, and Colon Cancer

Author: Journal of the National Cancer Institute
Published: 2010/05/08 - Updated: 2025/05/25
Publication Details: Peer-Reviewed, Research, Study, Analysis
Category Topic: Colorectal Cancers - Academic Publications

Page Content: Synopsis - Introduction - Main - Insights, Updates

Synopsis: This research, published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, analyzes data from over 731,000 participants across 13 studies to examine the relationship between coffee, soft drink, and tea consumption and colon cancer risk. The findings indicate that drinking even large amounts of coffee or sugar-sweetened, carbonated soft drinks does not increase the risk of developing colon cancer, regardless of factors like sex, smoking, alcohol use, body mass index, physical activity, or tumor location. While a modest association was observed between very high non-herbal tea consumption and colon cancer, the researchers caution that this may be due to chance, as very few participants drank such high amounts.

The study's large sample size and rigorous methodology make its conclusions authoritative and valuable, especially for seniors, people with disabilities, and those managing chronic conditions who may be concerned about dietary risks for colon cancer. The information is particularly helpful in clarifying that common beverages like coffee and soft drinks are not significant contributors to colon cancer risk, though it highlights the need for further research on early-life beverage consumption and its long-term health impacts - Disabled World (DW).

Introduction

Drinking even large amounts of coffee and sugar-sweetened, carbonated soft drinks is not associated with the risk of colon cancer according to a large study published online May 7th in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.

Main Content

Some previous studies have suggested that coffee and tea may lower the risk of cancer, but others show that they could increase the risk. Tea, for instance contains anti-oxidants that in theory help prevent cancer but also has polyamines, which in theory promote cancer. Sugar-sweetened soft drinks are associated with weight gain, obesity, and other conditions that are potential risk factors for colon cancer.

For this study, Xuehong Zhang, M.D., Sc.D., and colleagues at the Harvard School of Public Health analyzed data from 13 studies conducted in North America and Europe. Among 731,441 participants in these studies, there were 5,604 who developed colon cancer. Those who drank large amounts of coffee - more than six 8-oz cups a day - were no more likely to develop the disease than those who drank less.

Likewise, those who drank more than 18 oz daily of sugar-sweetened, carbonated beverages had no higher risk of colon cancer. But the authors note that the results for sugar-sweetened carbonated beverages should be interpreted with caution because only 2% of the study population drank more than 18 oz of these beverages daily.

The results were similar regardless of sex, smoking status, alcohol consumption, body mass index, level of physical activity, and location of the tumor.

The authors found a modest association between drinking high amounts of non-herbal tea - more than four 8-oz cups a day - and colon cancer risk. However, they note that very few people in the study drank that much tea and that the association could be due to chance.

"Drinking coffee or sugar-sweetened carbonated soft drinks was not associated with colon cancer risk," the researchers conclude. "However, a modest positive association with higher tea consumption is possible and requires further study."

In an accompanying editorial, Cynthia Thomson, Ph.D., and Maria Elena Martinez, Ph.D., of the Arizona Cancer Center, note that this study is a valuable contribution to the literature but that more research is needed on the links between childhood consumption of soft drinks and disease.

"Contrary to coffee and tea consumption, intake of sweetened beverages begins in childhood in many countries," they write. "Furthermore, sweetened beverage consumption is generally much lower among older adults. These differences in exposure suggest that intake of sweetened beverages may need to be assessed earlier in life to adequately assess its association with health outcomes."

Insights, Analysis, and Developments

Attribution/Source(s): This peer reviewed publication was selected for publishing by the editors of Disabled World (DW) due to its relevance to the disability community. Originally authored by Journal of the National Cancer Institute and published on 2010/05/08, this content may have been edited for style, clarity, or brevity.