Just Two Weeks of Drinking Sugar-Sweetened Beverages May Increase Risk of Heart Disease

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I previously wrote an article about how sugar-sweetened beverages may decrease the body's stress response. Now, there is another study out suggesting that drinking sugar-sweetened beverages may increase the risk of heart disease. It is important to keep in mind that how the studies were conducted and if there is other research out there to back it up. It is also important to remember moderation is key when it comes to what we eat and drink.

This study is the first to show a direct dose-dependent relationship between the amount of added sugar consumed in sugar-sweetened beverages and increases in specific risk factors for cardiovascular disease. There are other studies that show an increase in sugar-sweetened beverages correlates with an increase in cardiovascular disease. There were 85 participants both men and women between the ages of 18-40 years old who were divided into four different groups. The study followed these participants for 15 days while they consumed sugar-sweetened beverages with high-fructose corn syrup in 0 percent, 10 percent, 17.5 percent, and 25 percent of total daily calorie requirements.  It is important to note that the 0 percent group was the control group and they were given aspartame, an artificial sweetener.

At the beginning and end of the study the participants had their blood drawn hourly to monitor lipoproteins, triglycerides, and uric acid, all markers associated with cardiovascular disease. The study found that the higher the level of high-fructose corn syrup the higher the blood levels of lipoproteins, triglycerides, and uric acid. The study also found that men's blood levels increased more than the women's blood levels. The blood levels were independent of body weight gain. There is more research needed in this area, especially a longer time frame, since most people consume sugar-sweetened beverages regularly.

Kimber Stanhope et al. A dose-response study of consuming high-fructose corn syrup–sweetened beverages on lipid/lipoprotein risk factors for cardiovascular disease in young adults. Am J Clin Nutr, April 2015 DOI:10.3945/ajcn.114.100461

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