Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States and among many developed nations worldwide. A number of researchers have investigated the role of diet as a contributing factor to cardiovascular disease. Frank B. Hu, from Harvard School of Public Health, and colleagues studied data collected on 42,883 men, ages 40 to 75 years old, who were enrolled in the Health Professionals Follow-Up Study. The team found that men who drank 12 ounces of a sugar-sweetened beverage daily were at 20% increased risk of heart disease, and the risk persisted after controlling for confounding factors. Researchers also measured different lipids and proteins in the blood, which are indicators of inflammation, namely C-reactive protein (CRP), triglycerides, and high-density lipoproteins (HDL, “good” cholesterol). Compared to non-drinkers, those who consumed sugary beverages daily had higher triglyceride and CRP and lower HDL levels.
The study authors warn that: “Consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages was associated with increased risk of [coronary heart disease] and some adverse changes in lipids, inflammatory factors, and leptin.”
Our Comments: The majority of sugar-sweetened beverages in the US are sweetened with high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) instead of the more traditional cane sugar. The evidence against consuming HFCS is becoming so strong that an FDA warning may soon appear on products containing HFCS. A similar warning for trans fats recently caused many manufacturers to reduce or eliminate trans fats from their products.
de Koning L, et al. “Sweetened Beverage Consumption, Incident Coronary Heart Disease and Biomarkers of Risk in Men.” Circulation. 2012 Mar 12.
at the top of the page, register on Yelp!, and post a review. You will need a valid e-mail address and sign-up can be done in under 2 minutes. If you have any problems or questions, please feel free to call either office or e-mail us at info@franklinparkchiro.com or info@gutrich.com.