Table 2

Sweetened beverage intake in adulthood and risk of early-onset colorectal cancer

Exposure<1 serving/week1 serving/week to <1 serving/day1 serving/day to <2 servings/day≥2 servings/dayPtrend*Each serving/day increase
Sugar-sweetened beverages
 Person-years536 446504 341178 886138 469
 No. of cases45341416
 Age- and energy-adjusted RR (95% CI)1 (reference)0.89 (0.56 to 1.41)1.03 (0.55 to 1.92)1.72 (0.93 to 3.20)0.061.11 (0.96 to 1.29)
 Multivariable RR (95% CI)†1 (reference)0.97 (0.61 to 1.55)1.24 (0.65 to 2.39)2.18 (1.10 to 4.35)0.021.16 (1.00 to 1.36)
Artificially sweetened beverages
 Person-years424 283321 864258 215353 780
 No. of cases32331925
 Age- and energy-adjusted RR (95% CI)1 (reference)1.25 (0.76 to 2.04)0.95 (0.54 to 1.68)0.86 (0.50 to 1.46)0.320.96 (0.86 to 1.07)
 Multivariable RR (95% CI)†1 (reference)1.20 (0.73 to 1.98)0.86 (0.48 to 1.54)0.73 (0.42 to 1.27)0.110.93 (0.83 to 1.04)
Fruit juice
 Person-years450 890799 66392 76514 825
 No. of cases445951
 Age- and energy-adjusted RR (95% CI)1 (reference)0.81 (0.53 to 1.22)0.66 (0.25 to 1.71)0.90 (0.12 to 6.76)0.411.04 (0.64 to 1.67)
 Multivariable RR (95% CI)†1 (reference)0.86 (0.56 to 1.31)0.77 (0.29 to 2.05)1.20 (0.16 to 9.11)0.691.20 (0.74 to 1.94)

  • One beverage serving is 8 oz.

  • *Calculated using the median of each category of beverage intake as a continuous variable.

  • †Additionally adjusted for race (white, non-white), height (continuous), body mass index (continuous), menopausal status and menopausal hormone use (premenopausal, postmenopausal never user, postmenopausal ever user, unknown menopausal status or hormone use), family history of colorectal cancer (yes, no), pack-years of smoking (continuous), physical activity (continuous), regular use of aspirin (yes, no), regular use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (yes, no), current use of multivitamins (yes, no), intake of alcohol, red and processed meat, dietary fibre, total folate (from foods and supplements) and total calcium (all continuous), Alternative Healthy Eating Index-2010 score without sugar-sweetened beverages and alcohol (continuous) and lower endoscopy due to screening (yes, no) or for other indications within the past 10 years (yes, no).

  • RR, relative risk.