Sugary drinks increase risk of cardiovascular disease - new study

Their study, published in the journal Frontiers in Public Health, found: excessive consumption of sugary drinks increases the likelihood of stroke, heart failure, atrial fibrillation and aortic aneurysm, while other sweets (such as baked goods), if eaten infrequently, are associated with a lower risk compared to avoiding them altogether.

"Our most surprising finding is the opposite relationship of heart and vascular disease risk with different sources of sugar," said Susanne Jantzi, a doctoral student at Lund University. She emphasised the importance of considering not only the amount of sugar consumed, but also its form and the context in which it is consumed.

The scientists analysed data from two large Swedish cohort studies, the Swedish Mammography Cohort and the Cohort of Swedish Men. A total of 69,705 participants were considered. The researchers identified three types of sugar: additives such as honey or jam ("toppings"), sweetened products (e.g. cakes), and sweetened drinks. They examined the effect of their consumption on the risk of seven cardiovascular diseases: two types of stroke, myocardial infarction, heart failure, aortic aneurysm, atrial fibrillation and aortic stenosis.

The results showed that drinks with added sugar posed the greatest risk. Their frequent consumption increased the risk of ischaemic stroke, heart failure, atrial fibrillation and abdominal aortic aneurysm. Overall, increased sugar intake increased the likelihood of stroke and aortic aneurysm, and increased the risk of heart failure in people with normal body mass index.

Interestingly, complete avoidance of sweets did not appear to be more beneficial. Moderate consumption of confectionery was associated with a lower risk of cardiovascular problems than complete avoidance. According to Jantzi, the reason may be related to dietary habits or pre-existing health conditions in those who completely avoid sweets.

The authors emphasise that their findings are based on a Swedish sample where a culture of 'fika' (coffee breaks with pastries) is widespread. The results will not necessarily be entirely consistent for countries with other food traditions. Further research is needed to establish causality and to understand the mechanism of the effect of different types of sugar.

Details: Added sugar intake and its associations with incidence of seven different cardiovascular diseases in 69,705 Swedish men and women, Frontiers in Public Health (2024). DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2024.1452085