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What's the evidence linking sugar to cancer risk?

Denise Manning, Oxford

There's long been anecdotal evidence linking higher sugar consumption with an increased risk of cancer. Doctors working in Africa during the 20th century noted how increasing consumption of refined carbohydrates and sugar by the indigenous populations led to increased risk of what they termed the 'diseases of civilisation', such as diabetes, heart disease and some forms of cancer.

More scientific evidence has emerged from studies involving comparisons of the blood glucose levels of huge numbers of people and their cancer risk. In 2005, a study of 1.3 million Korean people pointed to a link between sugar consumption and cancer risk, as did a European study published in 2010. However, the evidence is still far from compelling, as the increased risk figures are small and possibly attributable to other lifestyle factors.

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