December 25, 2024, 3:33 pm | Read time: 4 minutes
Sugary drinks are considered a significant factor in obesity – especially in children and adolescents. However, high consumption can have further consequences and, according to a new study, can even promote cardiovascular disease.
According to a study by the RKI, 20 percent of children and young people in Germany drink sugary soft drinks, and this figure increases with age.1 The sweet drinks have a high energy content but are not very filling. As a result, people often become overweight. This is why you should avoid or greatly reduce your consumption of these products. In addition to obesity, there are also other health consequences: One study found a link between sugary drinks and cardiovascular disease.
Overview
Study with Almost 70,000 Participants
The researchers obtained data from the Swedish research infrastructure SIMPLER to get a picture of dietary habits, health, and lifestyle.2 All the women were born between 1914 and 1948 and resided in central Sweden at the time of the survey. Similarly, the men were all from this region and were born between 1918 and 1952. All participants who had been diagnosed with cancer, cardiovascular disease, or diabetes were excluded. This yielded a cohort of 69,705 participants with an average BMI of 25.3. The subjects were, on average, 59.9 years old, with their daily intake of added sugar constituting, on average, 9.1 percent of their energy intake (E%).
Between 1987 and 1990, as well as in 1997, 2008, and 2009, the 69,705 participants received identical questionnaires that collected information about their diet, health, and lifestyle.
Nutrition Survey
The 1997 questionnaire comprised 96 questions that captured the average consumption of various foods and beverages over the prior year. For all foods, participants could choose between eight or ten predetermined consumption frequencies. The questions on the frequency of beverage consumption, including sweetened drinks, tea, and coffee, were open questions.
In 2009, the participants answered a questionnaire with 132 questions. The revision aimed to incorporate additional foods that had become more common or emerged since 1997. The questionnaire also covered emerging nutrition trends, including specific products and diets.
Estimating the Sugar Intake
In order to outline the participants’ total intake of added sugars, the researchers subtracted the intake of naturally occurring sugars in fruit, vegetables, fruit juices, and jam from the total intake of sucrose and monosaccharides. Assessment of the individual nutrients was conducted using the Swedish Food Composition Database.
Classification of Foods and Beverages Sweetened with Sugar
To assess the energy density and macronutrient content, the scientists classified the products as follows:
- Treats: foods sweetened with sugar, such as pastries, ice cream, sweets and chocolate
- Toppings: household sugar, honey, jam and marmalade
- Sweetened drinks: all sweetened soft drinks and fruit drinks, but not pure fruit juices
Sugary Drinks Increased the Risk of Cardiovascular Disease
By the end of the follow-up period in 2019, 25,739 participants had been diagnosed with at least one cardiovascular disease, representing nearly half of the cohort.
Among these, seven cardiovascular diseases were particularly prominent:
- Atrial fibrillation: 13,167 cases
- Heart failure: 10,090 cases
- Ischemic stroke: 6912 cases
- Myocardial infarction: 6635 cases
- Aortic stenosis: 1872 cases
- Hemorrhagic stroke: 1664 cases
- Abdominal aortic aneurysm: 1575 cases
The scientists observed that the risk of ischemic stroke increased by 19 percent in people who consumed more than eight servings of sugary drinks per week. The risk of heart failure increased by 18 percent, atrial fibrillation by 11 percent, and abdominal aortic aneurysm by as much as 31 percent.
Consumption of two or more portions of treats per week was also linked to negative outcomes for all seven cardiovascular diseases. Similar findings were also observed for the toppings.
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Classification of the study
The study makes it clear that there is a link between the consumption of sugary drinks and the risk of cardiovascular disease. However, it should be noted that the study only included participants from Sweden. This does not ensure that the findings would be applicable to other demographic groups. Moreover, the data is derived from participant surveys, which could mean that the responses were not always accurate due to memory lapses or misjudgments. It is also possible that additional dietary or lifestyle factors, beyond sugar consumption, contribute to the heightened risk of developing cardiovascular disease.