| A study revealed
that those who drink soda, a huge percentage of the world’s population,
might have a higher risk of developing esophageal (throat) cancer
(ACE). The study showed a strong link between the accelerated rate
of people drinking carbonated soft drinks and the growing number of
cases of esophageal cancer over the past 20 years.
Some statistics related to the steady
rise in carbonated soft drink consumption include:
- During the past half-century, the number of carbonated soft
drink drinkers rose more than 450 percent and jumped from 10.8
gallons in 1946 to 49.2 gallons in the year 2000.
- Over the last 25 years, the cases of ACE have exceeded 570 percent
among American white males and the rates have continued to rise.
A significant biological explanation showed that the increased
dose and length of esophageal exposure to acid led to episodes of
gastric distension that triggered acid reflux.
The study also broke down the consumption of carbonated soft drinks
(CSD) to minutes of acid exposure and discovered that the average
soda drinker consumed over 32,000 additional minutes of acid exposure
a year. Other statistics have exposed a rising trend of ACE cases
in countries with a per capita intake of CSD that exceeded 20 gallons.
Conclusions from the study prompted researchers to say further
emphasis is needed upon the importance of diet patterns on health
trends.
Science
Blog May 17, 2004
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