Drinking too much fruit juice and sugar-sweetened beverages during childhood may increase the risk of high blood pressure in later life, a study has found. Researchers analysed 25 years’ worth of data from almost 26,000 people to investigate the impact of drinking habits. Those who consumed 2 or more servings of sugar-sweetened beverages per day had a 52% higher risk of developing high blood pressure later than those who consumed fewer than 3 servings per week. A typical serving was defined as a 12-ounce can or glass.
Around one in three adults in the UK has high blood pressure, with millions unaware that they are living with a condition that puts them at higher risk of serious health problems, including deadly heart attacks and strokes, kidney disease and vascular dementia. Study leader Dr Vasanti Malik, an associate professor and expert in nutrition at the University of Toronto, said: “Dietary habits in early life can have lasting health consequences.
“High blood pressure is also emerging earlier in life, with growing rates being seen in younger adults, in children and adolescents, which highlights the importance of early detection and prevention.”
Participants in the study provided information about their diet and drinking habits, body measurements and habits such as exercise and smoking every one to four years.
Sugar-sweetened beverages included fizzy drinks, ice teas, sports drinks and non-carbonated fruit drinks.
People who drank 1.5 or more eight-ounce servings of fruit juice per day had a 35% higher risk of developing high blood pressure than those who reported drinking less than 1 serving per week.
Among sugary drink subtypes, each daily serving of soda and sports drinks was associated with a 23% and 36% higher risk of high blood pressure, respectively.
The researchers estimated that swapping a daily serving of sugary beverage or juice with whole fruit could cut risk of developing high blood pressure by around a fifth.
Possible reasons why sugary drinks may contribute to an elevated risk of high blood pressure include by driving weight gain. Sugary drinks are sometimes high in calories while providing minimal satiety.
Dr Malik said: “Sugar-sweetened beverages, such as soda and sports drinks, which are often marketed as somewhat healthy, should be limited.
“Fruit juice intake may be harmless at low levels yet harmful at higher intake levels. They should always be 100% fruit juice, and even so, consumed only in moderation. Whole fruit should be emphasised over sugary beverages.”
The findings were published in the American Heart Association’s flagship journal Circulation.
This story originally appeared on Express.co.uk
