Liver cancer is diagnosed about 6,200 times a year in Britain, making it the 18th most common cancer.
A new study analyzed data from 90,000 postmenopausal women who examined their health over an 18-year period.
About 7 percent of the women reported drinking one or more servings of sugar-sweetened beverages per day.
A total of 205 women developed liver cancer, whose symptoms are fatigue, loss of appetite, nausea, pain under the ribs and itchy skin.
Women who drank one or more sugar-sweetened beverages daily had a 78 percent increased risk of developing liver cancer.
Those who drank at least one soft drink a day had a 73 percent greater risk of developing liver cancer, compared to those who drank only three drinks a month or none at all.
Study lead author Longang Zhao said: “Our results suggest that consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages is a potential risk factor for liver cancer.
“If our findings are confirmed, reducing consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages may serve as a general strategy to reduce the burden of liver cancer.”
The researchers emphasized that sugar increases the risk of obesity and type 2 diabetes, which in turn are risk factors for liver cancer.
These drinks can also contribute to insulin resistance and the accumulation of fat in the liver, both of which affect liver health.
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