Sweetened beverages have been found to have a negative impact on health, but indulging in an occasional slice of cake may not be as harmful, according to recent scientific findings. Researchers examining the health risks associated with various types of sugar consumption noted that while a high intake of sugar can increase the risk of certain cardiovascular diseases, sugary drinks are particularly risky. Conversely, extremely low sugar consumption was linked to poorer cardiovascular health. The lowest risks of cardiovascular diseases were observed in individuals who consumed occasional treats. However, the same cannot be said for fizzy drinks.
The study showed that excessive consumption of added sugars raises the risk of stroke and aneurysm. On the other hand, consuming a few sweet treats is linked to a lower risk of cardiovascular diseases. Sweetened beverages, in contrast, are associated with a higher risk of stroke, heart failure, and atrial fibrillation. Suzanne Janzi, a PhD candidate at Lund University and corresponding author of the study published in Frontiers in Public Health, noted the significant difference in risk between various sources of added sugar, emphasizing the importance of considering both the source and context of sugar consumption.
Public health organizations generally recommend limiting sugar intake to protect dental health and improve diet, but there has been limited evidence on how sugar impacts cardiovascular health. Cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of death and illness in Europe, and dietary changes are a relatively straightforward method to reduce this risk. To explore how sugar consumption influences cardiovascular disease risk and whether different types of sugar alter these risks, researchers analyzed data from two major cohort studies: the Swedish Mammography Cohort and the Cohort of Swedish Men. These studies used diet questionnaires from 1997 and 2009, providing a long-term view of participants’ dietary habits. After applying criteria to ensure consistency and eliminate independent risk factors for cardiovascular diseases, the study sample included 69,705 participants.
The researchers examined three categories of sugar consumption: toppings such as honey, treats like pastries, and sweetened beverages like fizzy drinks. They also looked at seven cardiovascular diseases, including two types of stroke, heart attacks, heart failure, aortic aneurysms, atrial fibrillation, and aortic stenosis. The participants were monitored until they either died, were diagnosed with one of the cardiovascular diseases, or reached the end of the follow-up period in 2019. During this time, 25,739 participants were diagnosed with a cardiovascular disease. The researchers then analyzed this data to determine how different types of sugar intake affect the risk of various cardiovascular diseases.
