Dhaka, July 11 -- Sugary drinks - including fruit juice and fizzy pop - may increase the risk of cancer, French scientists say, reports BBC.

The link was suggested by a study, published in the British Medical Journal, that followed more than 100,000 people for five years.

The team at Universite Sorbonne Paris Cite speculate that the impact of blood sugar levels may be to blame.

However, the research is far from definitive proof and experts have called for more research.

What counts as a sugary drink?

The researchers defined it as a drink with more than 5% sugar.

That included fruit juice (even with no added sugar), soft drinks, sweetened milkshakes, energy drinks and tea or coffee with sugar stirred in.

The team also looked at diet...