US researchers warned against excessive consumption of soft drinks, and said that this may contribute to an increased risk of pancreatic cancer.

Dr. Mark Pereira, a public health specialist at the University of Minnesota in the United States and one of the participants in the study, explained that people who regularly consume sweetened soft drinks are likely to have poor health behaviors.

The study team followed about 60,000 men and women over a 14-year period in Singapore, and 140 cases of pancreatic cancer were detected among them.

According to the study, the risk of developing pancreatic cancer increased to 80% in people who consumed five times a week, compared to those who did not drink this type of beverage.

Pereira stated that the high levels of sugar, which are found in soft drinks, may increase insulin levels in the body, as the latter is believed to contribute to the growth of cancerous cells in the pancreas.