A new study shows people have a higher risk of developing pancreatic cancer if they drink between two or more sweetened soft drinks per week.

The study revealed an association between sugary soft drinks and pancreatic cancer, also showing the risk of cancer going down with drinks like fruit juice rather than soda.

“The body releases insulin and insulin-like growth factors which promote cell growth in response to a rise in blood sugar,” Julie Schumacher, registered dietitian and instructional professor for family and consumer sciences, said.

“There are good sugars and bad sugars. Simple [bad] sugars enter the bloodstream quickly, which causes a rise in insulin and other growth-promoting hormones.

“Research shows that high levels of these hormones may increase the growth of cancer cells … often soda consumption is found in conjunction with other sugary, low nutritional value foods.

“Good sugars, or complex carbohydrates, are present in foods that provide nutrients such as vitamins, minerals, protein and fiber … by substituting complex carbohydrates for simple sugars in your diet, you can reduce your risk of cancer and other chronic diseases.”

Assistant Professor of Nutrition Robert Cullen expands on why fruit juice does not have the same effect as sugared soda, even though many fruit juices may have added sugar.

“This might be due to the high fructose of fruit juice which causes a slower rise in blood glucose levels than sugar,” Cullen said. “The glycemic index of different carbohydrate-containing foods tells how much blood glucose levels rise after eating each food. Fruits are higher in the sugar fructose, which leads to a smaller rise in blood glucose than sugar [sucrose]. This may explain why fruit juices did not have the same effect as sweetened sodas.”

Schumacher also suggested swapping out certain foods for ones with better sugars such as eating whole grain bread instead of white bread, eating a whole orange versus drinking orange juice or eating fruit leather instead of fruit snacks.

Cullen stressed how the study does not provide causation, only association, by adding, “Two or more sweetened soft drinks per week are associated with increased risk for pancreatic cancer, but people who consume more carbonated sweetened beverages have poor health habits, different dietary and lifestyle choices, too.

“It could be these other factors or a combination of sugar-containing beverages and these other choices that lead to the pancreatic diseases/health issues… This is a study that does not prove the association but suggests a relationship between sweetened soda and pancreatic cancer.”