Swedish study finds sugary drinks increase cardiovascular disease risk more than sweet treats

A large-scale Swedish study involving nearly 70,000 participants revealed that the consumption of sugary drinks significantly increases the risk of serious cardiovascular diseases. According to Proto Thema, the research found that sugary drinks are more harmful to heart health than sugars consumed from other sources.

The study, published in the journal Frontiers in Public Health, evaluated the link between sweetened beverages, such as fizzy drinks and fruit juices, and seven cardiovascular diseases, including two types of strokes, heart attacks, and heart failure, as reported by SKAI. Scientists studied the eating habits and development of cardiovascular diseases among nearly 70,000 Swedes over a study period that began in 1997, according to Rossiyskaya Gazeta. Participants completed questionnaires about their diet in 1997 and 2009, as noted by in.gr. Their health was then followed until they died, were diagnosed with a cardiovascular disease, or reached the end of the follow-up period in 2019, as reported by Zougla.

More than a third of the study participants suffered from cardiovascular pathologies, with 25,739 diagnosed during the 10 years of follow-up, Zee News reported. The findings showed that consuming more than eight sweet drinks a week is associated with a 19 percent increase in the risk of ischemic stroke and a 31 percent increase in the risk of abdominal aortic aneurysm, according to iefimerida. High sugar intake spiked the risk of heart failure in participants with a normal BMI, as noted by Zee News.

Suzanna Janz, a Swedish epidemiologist from Lund University, highlighted the health risks associated with consuming sweet drinks. "Sweet drinks include carbonated beverages and fruit juices," she stated, emphasizing the potential dangers of their consumption, as reported by Zee News.

In contrast, limited consumption of sweets and treats does not seem to increase the risk of serious cardiovascular disease and can be associated with better health outcomes. Proto Thema reported that occasional consumption of sweets is associated with better health outcomes. Interestingly, the highest risks of negative health outcomes were found in the lowest category of sweet treat consumption, according to Zee News.

The problem with sugary drinks is their tendency to be overconsumed, as they lack fiber, protein, or fat, which provide satiety. This can potentially lead to overconsumption, as noted by Zee News. Sweet drinks are consumed more regularly than treats enjoyed in social settings, which may contribute to this overconsumption, Rossiyskaya Gazeta reported.

Scientists also stated that stopping or sharply reducing sugar consumption is not necessarily beneficial, according to Rossiyskaya Gazeta. The research suggested that sugar consumption may have different effects depending on its source. Rossiyskaya Gazeta noted that the study found sweet drinks, including fruit juices, increase the risk of cardiovascular diseases more than baked goods do. The study also found that sweet drinks are more harmful than sugars consumed in the form of fillings such as honey or sweets like pastries or chocolate.

Scientists noted that more research is needed to understand the mechanisms involved in the different effects of different types of sugar consumption, as reported by Zougla. However, the study is observational and cannot establish causation. "The study is observational and cannot establish causation," Suzanne Janzi said, according to Zee News.

Many studies show health risks from excessive sugar consumption, according to Rossiyskaya Gazeta. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends reducing the intake of free sugars to less than 10 percent of total energy intake, Rossiyskaya Gazeta reported. According to this study, a small daily amount of free sugars does not seem harmful.

This article was written in collaboration with generative AI company Alchemiq