Sweetened beverages are more harmful to the heart than other sugary treats.

Researchers from Sweden and Denmark conducted a large-scale study involving both men and women to explore the relationship between various forms of added sugars in the diet and seven types of cardiovascular diseases. They found that sugary beverages, including soft drinks, posed the greatest health risk. Conversely, the study somewhat vindicated other treats like chocolate and cakes, though this was contingent on their infrequent consumption.

2024-12-10 10:01:19https://naked-science.ru/article/medicine/napitki-navredili-serdtsu

There is substantial evidence of the detrimental effects of sugar on the human body. For instance, scientific literature indicates that sugar consumption leads to obesity, damages the vascular system, disrupts the normal intestinal microflora, and causes malfunctions in the immune system.

However, researchers have less frequently explored the correlations between specific types of sweets and particular cardiovascular diseases. A group of health specialists from Lund University (Sweden), in collaboration with colleagues from the University of Copenhagen (Denmark), took on the task of examining this issue in greater detail.

The analysis sample comprised nearly 70,000 men and women aged 45 to 83, formed through two research projects — Swedish Mammography Cohort and Cohort of Swedish Men, which focused on the impact of lifestyle on the health of Swedish residents.

In 1997 and 2009, participants filled out questionnaires that included questions about dietary habits, including sugar consumption and three categories of products containing sugar. These categories included sweet beverages, such as carbonated drinks and those with added fruit juices, various treats like baked goods, ice cream, candies, and chocolate, as well as sweet additives (honey, jam, and preserves).

Using national population registries, researchers identified which respondents had been diagnosed with ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke, myocardial infarction, heart failure, aortic stenosis, atrial fibrillation, and abdominal aortic aneurysm. Observations of individuals continued until the onset of any of the seven diseases, death, or the end of 2019. The relationship between sugar consumption and the risk of these conditions was assessed using Cox regression and other statistical methods.

The listed diagnoses were made for nearly 26,000 participants. The analysis revealed that sugary drinks significantly increased the risk of cardiovascular diseases (CVD) more than other forms of added sugar. Researchers explained this by noting that sweet liquids typically do not induce feelings of fullness, making it easier to consume excessively.

Surprisingly, researchers found the highest risk of negative health outcomes among individuals with the lowest sugar intake. Conversely, those who occasionally indulged in sweets like pastries or chocolate showed a negative correlation with all considered CVDs.

In a comment on the article, medical professionals noted that those consuming minimal sugar may have been adhering to a very strict diet or limiting sweets due to other health conditions. This likely influenced their results.

Although the observational nature of the study did not allow for conclusions about causality, the researchers suggested that there may be no need to overly restrict sugar intake for cardiovascular health.

Nonetheless, the authors of the scientific paper, published in the journal Frontiers in Public Health, emphasized that further research is necessary to fully understand the impact of different sugar consumption patterns on the body. Additionally, dietary habits are significantly influenced by demographic and cultural factors, meaning results may vary in other countries compared to those obtained in Sweden.