Sugary Drinks Increase Risk of Cancer in Women by 78 Percent

Aerated drinks and juices have another addition to their long list of health risks - cancer.

A study conducted on post-menopausal women found that consumption of sugary drinks can lead to endometrial cancer, the most common-type of cancer.

The research team analyzed data collected from 23,039 postmenopausal women as part of the Iowa Women's Health Study. Information about the women's dietary intake and medical history were taken into consideration.

The participants were queried about their regular intake of sweetened beverages such as Coke, Pepsi and other carbonated beverages with sugar and non-carbonated fruit drinks, like Hawaiian Punch or lemonade.

The study results showed that women who consumed more sweetened drinks were at 78 percent increased risk of developing estrogen-dependent type 1 endometrial cancer. They stated that more the consumption of the sugary drinks higher the risk of developing the cancer.

The researchers explained that endometrial cancer is due to estrogen.  "We know...that higher consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages may increase body fat, and higher body fat may increase estrogen levels," study author Maki Inoue-Choi, a research associate at the University of Minnesota School of Public Health in Minneapolis, told FoxNews.com.

They further said that obesity contributes to developing the cancer. "Obese women tend to have higher levels of estrogen and insulin than women of normal weight. Increased levels of estrogen and insulin are established risk factors for endometrial cancer," Inoue-Choi explained in a press release.

However, the researchers found no link between sweet snacks, cakes or starch-rich food and risk of endometrial cancer.

Statistics released by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention say that 49,560 American women are estimated to be diagnosed with endometrial cancer this year.

The study was published in the journal 'Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers and Prevention.'