Sugary drinks raise heart disease risk more than sweet snacks
Research published in Frontiers in Public Health indicates that occasionally consuming sweet snacks might be better for heart health than completely avoiding them. Regular consumption of sugary drinks significantly increases the risk of cardiovascular diseases.
Scientists from Lund University analyzed data from over 69,000 people using information from two large Swedish cohort studies: the Swedish Mammography Cohort and the Cohort of Swedish Men. Participants completed dietary questionnaires in 1997 and 2009, and their health status was monitored until 2019.
During the observation period, 25,739 participants were diagnosed with cardiovascular diseases. The researchers focused on the impact of three types of sugar intake: additives like honey, sweet snacks, and sugary drinks. They analyzed the risk of developing seven cardiovascular diseases, including stroke, heart attack, and heart failure.
Surprising research findings
The results showed that sugary drinks posed the greatest threat to the heart. Regular consumption increases the risk of ischemic stroke, heart failure, atrial fibrillation, and abdominal aortic aneurysm.
- Liquid sugars, found in sweetened beverages, typically provide less satiety than solid forms — they make you feel less full — potentially leading to overconsumption - explained Suzanne Janzi, a PhD student at Lund University and the article's author.
Surprisingly, the lowest risk of cardiovascular diseases was noted in people who occasionally consumed sweet snacks compared to those who completely abstained from them.
Janzi noted that drastically reducing sugar intake might not be essential or advantageous for cardiovascular health. This implies that enjoying sweets in moderation, particularly in social or occasional settings, could be acceptable.
The study also revealed that increased sugar consumption affected various heart diseases differently. For example, a higher sugar intake increases the risk of ischemic stroke and abdominal aortic aneurysm, as well as heart failure in individuals with a normal body mass index. This may be due to the individual risk profiles of the participants.
The authors emphasize that their study is observational and does not allow for a definitive establishment of a cause-and-effect relationship. However, our results suggest the need for further research on the impact of different sources of sugar on heart health, explains Janzi. She also points out that diet is specific to a particular culture and population, so results obtained in Sweden may not be identical in other countries.
