Sugar-Sweetened Soda Consumption and Total and Breast Cancer Mortality: The Western New York Exposures and Breast Cancer (WEB) Study

Abstract

Background: There is growing evidence of an association between sugar-sweetened beverages (SSB) and increased risk of mortality in various populations. However, the influence of SSB on mortality among patients with breast cancer is unknown.

Methods: This study assessed the relationship between sugar-sweetened soda consumption and both all-cause and breast cancer mortality among women with invasive breast cancer from the Western New York Exposures and Breast Cancer Study. Breast cancer cases were followed for a median of 18.7 years, with vital status ascertained via the National Death Index. Frequency of sugar-sweetened soda consumption was determined through dietary recall using a food frequency questionnaire. Cox proportional hazards models, adjusting for relevant variables, were used to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs).

Results: Among 927 breast cancer cases, 386 (54.7%) had died by the end of the follow-up. Compared with never or rarely consuming sugar-sweetened soda, consumption of soda at least five times per week was associated with an increased risk of both total mortality (HR = 1.62; 95% CI, 1.16–2.26; Ptrend < 0.01) and breast cancer mortality (HR = 1.85; 95% CI, 1.16–2.94; Ptrend < 0.01). The increased risk was particularly observed in ER-positive patients, among women with a body mass index above the median, and premenopausal women for total mortality.

Conclusions: Higher frequency of sugar-sweetened soda intake was associated with increased risks of both total and breast cancer mortality among patients with breast cancer.

Impact: These findings support existing guidelines on reducing sugar-sweetened beverage consumption, including among women diagnosed with breast cancer.