Study Finds Daily Consumption Of Sugary Drinks Increase Women's Risk For CVD

Researchers analyzed how the daily sugary beverage consumption of female California teachers increased their risk of suffering from cardiovascular disease by 20%. The study also looked at how drinking fruit drinks with added sugars was linked to a 42% higher risk of having cardiovascular disease compared to those who rarely have them.

Sugary Beverages

A large and ongoing study of female teachers in California found that drinking one or more sugary beverages daily is linked to 26% higher likelihood of undergoing revascularization procedure. Researchers also found that their risk of suffering from a stroke is 21% higher compared to women who seldom or never drank sugary drinks.

The research, which began in 1995, looked at how different sugary beverages like caloric soft drinks, sugar-added fruit drinks, and sweetened teas or bottled waters increase cardiovascular disease risk. There were over 106,000 women who participated in the study, with an average age of 52. The participants were carefully selected, such that they have not been diagnosed with diabetes, stroke, or heart disease prior to the study.

To properly make an assessment, a food questionnaire was given to the participants where they revealed what they drank, as well as the amount of their intake. Hospitalization records were verified to determine if the women experienced a heart attack, surgery to open clogged arteries or stroke.

It was found that younger women tend to have a higher intake of sugar-sweetened beverages. They are also likely to be smokers and obese and were deemed not keen at eating healthy foods.

The study’s lead author, Cheryl Anderson, Ph.D., M.P.H., M.S., chair of the American Heart Association’s Nutrition Committee, reiterated that the study does not prove cause and effect as it was observational. She said that hypothetically, “sugar may increase the risk of cardiovascular diseases in several ways.”

The Dire Effects

Dr. Anderson explained that sugar raises glucose levels and insulin concentration in the blood. With this increase, people tend to develop more appetite, which can eventually lead to obesity. The latter is known as a major risk factor for cardiovascular diseases.

Aside from CVD, too much sugar is also associated with inflammation and oxidative stress. It has also been linked to insulin resistance and unhealthy cholesterol. These conditions have been considered to lead to atherosclerosis, a condition regarded by many health experts as a precursor of cardiovascular disease.

The American Heart Association recommends that women must not consume more than 100 calories or six teaspoons of sugar a day. For men, the recommended amount must not exceed 150 calories or nine teaspoons a day.