Sugary drinks elevate blood pressure

Radha Chitale

Soft drinks, juices and other sugar-sweetened beverages were linked to high blood pressure in adults, according to a study, and may be a possible intervention method for those at risk of the condition. Previous studies have shown that reduced sugary drink consumption is linked to reduced blood pressure. [Circulation 2010;121:2398-2406] High blood pressure is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease. In a cohort of 2,696 patients from the International Study of Macro/Micronutrients and Blood Pressure (INTERMAP) group, the researchers determined that there was a direct relationship between sugary drink intake and systolic and diastolic blood pressure, even after adjusting for body mass. [Hypertension 2011 Apr;57(4):695-701] Every extra sugary drink was associated with a 1 mmHg increase in systolic blood pressure (P<0.001) and a 0.8 mmHg increase in diastolic blood pressure. INTERMAP participants included adults aged 40-59 years from the US and the UK. They reported food and drink intake for 4 days and had two 24-hour urine collections, eight blood pressure readings and answered lifestyle and medical history questionnaires. People who consumed more than 100-150 calories per day from sugar-added drinks – the amount recommended by the American Heart Association – generally consumed 397 more calories per day than those who did not drink extra sugary beverages. Consumption of fructose and sucrose – the two most commercially common sweeteners – was prominent among people with high blood pressure. In particular, the researchers speculated that fructose may be an important part of the hypothesized uric acid pathway. “One possible mechanism for sugar-sweetened beverages and fructose increasing blood pressure levels is a resultant increase in the level of uric acid in the blood that may in turn lower the nitric oxide required to keep the blood vessels dilated,” said lead author Dr. Ian Brown, a research associate at Imperial College London in the UK. “Sugar consumption also has been linked to enhanced sympathetic nervous system activity and sodium retention.” The association between sugary drinks and blood pressure was stronger among people who consumed more salt, which is an important cause of high blood pressure itself. There was no association between diet drinks and high blood pressure, although people who consumed diet drinks tended to have a higher body mass index. The researchers noted the study was limited by its cross-sectional design and self reports of food and drink intake. “These findings are consistent with recent trial data and lend support to recommendations for reducing intake of sugar-sweetened beverages/added sugars/salt, for the improvement of cardiovascular health,”  courtesy: www.cimsasia.com