Now Fizzy Drinks

[eric1000]

Fizzy drinks spark cancer scare

1.01PM, Wed May 19 2004

Fizzy drinks could be linked to some cancers of the gullet, according to research.

Data by Indian researchers claims a "very significant correlation" between the growth in popularity of such drinks and cancer of the oesophagus - which connects the mouth and stomach.

They said US figures show consumption of fizzy drinks in the US increased five-fold in the last 50 years - while in the last 25 years the rate of oesophageal cancer has increased six fold in white men, the group which consumes most carbonated drinks.

This trend was also found in the UK and Australia, where consumption has also increased.

By contrast, in countries like China and Japan, where the craze has been much slower to catch on, there was no rise in such cancers.

But the British Soft Drinks Association (BSDA) said the research proves nothing as it does not look at the consumption patterns of those people who actually develop the disease.

The report's author, Dr Mohandas Mallath of the Tata Memorial Hospital in Mumbai, said: "As the rates may continue to rise for another 20 years, we believe that more epidemiological studies are urgently required to establish the true association."

But Richard Laming of the BSDA said: “The author of the new study has only compared soft drink consumption data with an increase in a very rare type of cancer.

"Over the last two decades, many different aspects of diet and lifestyle have changed. There is no scientific basis for singling out one food as a possible cause.”

Lee Kaplan, of Massachusetts General Hospital, said: "This is only a correlation and doesn't in any way indicate causality.

"There are a whole variety of things that occur in modern society. Refrigerators are associated with cancer - but they don't cause it."

He added that people who drink large amounts of carbonated drinks may have other lifestyle factors which lead to cancer, such as being overweight.

May 18: Obesity fears over US doughnut in the UK

[thaimee]

"This is only a correlation and doesn't in any way indicate causality.

"There are a whole variety of things that occur in modern society. Refrigerators are associated with cancer - but they don't cause it."

He added that people who drink large amounts of carbonated drinks may have other lifestyle factors which lead to cancer, such as being overweight.

May 18:  Obesity fears over US doughnut in the UK

Fizzy drinks perhaps affect bone marrow, the good stuff which is in your bones, causing a weakening or leeching effect, and again perhaps because of the high content of Sodium-Sugar.

As for fizzy drinks causing cancer of the Oesaphagous. Whatever next Doc?

The quote about refrigerators is perhaps correct. I believe if you don't replace your refrigerator often, say every 6-8 years, then the workings in the back give off something that is bad for health. Sorry for the lack of technical garb, anyone?

But it sounds like pure spin once again...

Thaimee.