No link found
Sugar 'feeding' cancer
cutting sugar to starve tumors. Food & drink.
- Verdict
- No link foundStudies looked for a link to cancer and didn't find one.
- How sure
- Rung 3 · ModerateConsistent observational studies or small trials, not yet confirmed by large trials.
The rung shows how sure the science is, not how big the effect is. How to read these ratings
Cancers affected
None directly
What the evidence shows
All cells use glucose, and cutting sugar cannot starve only cancer cells. Cancer Research UK finds no evidence that a sugar-free diet lowers risk or improves survival. The real link is indirect: too much sugar adds weight, and excess weight raises risk.
What to do
Limit added sugar and sugary drinks for your weight; whole fruit is fine.
Sources
To take it to your doctor, print this page.
Related
Every myth and exposure we rated, or follow one cancer step by step: breast cancer, colorectal cancer, lung cancer and prostate cancer.