Regular consumption of sugary drinks and fruit juices during childhood may be associated with a higher risk of developing high blood pressure in adulthood, according to a new long-term study published in the scientific journal Circulation of the American Heart Association.
The 25-year study analyzed data from more than 25,000 children and teenagers in the United States, aged between 9 and 16, who were followed for up to 25 years.
Participants recorded their dietary habits, including their consumption of soft drinks, fruit drinks, lemonade, iced tea, sports drinks, fruit juices and whole fruits. Researchers also collected information on body weight, exercise habits and smoking in order to examine links between fructose intake, sugary beverages and later hypertension.
Higher consumption linked to increased risk
The analysis found that children who consumed two or more servings of sugary drinks per day had a 52% higher risk of developing hypertension compared with those who consumed fewer than three servings per week.
A standard serving was defined as a drink of about 350 milliliters, roughly the size of a glass or can.
Each additional daily serving of soft drinks and sports drinks was associated with a 23% and 36% higher risk of high blood pressure, respectively.
The study also found that those who consumed at least one and a half glasses of fruit juice daily had a 35% higher likelihood of developing hypertension compared with those who drank less than one serving per week.
Replacing sugary drinks with healthier options
Researchers found that replacing one daily serving of a sugary drink with whole fruit was associated with a 22% lower risk of hypertension. Replacing fruit juice with fresh fruit was linked to a 19% reduction in risk.
Substituting sugary beverages with water or milk was also associated with a lower risk of high blood pressure, with reductions of up to 13%.
However, replacing fruit juice with water or milk did not show a significant difference in hypertension risk.
The association between sugary drink consumption and high blood pressure remained even after researchers considered other factors, including overall diet quality and physical activity.
Researchers highlight study limitations
The researchers noted that the study was observational and does not prove that sugary drinks directly cause hypertension.
They also pointed out that the findings were based on self-reported dietary information collected through questionnaires. In addition, most participants were white, non-Hispanic Americans, which limits how widely the results can be applied to other populations.
The American Heart Association supports measures aimed at reducing sugary drink consumption, including policies such as taxation, improved nutritional standards in school meals and greater public awareness about healthier dietary choices.
