Reducing Consumption of Sugar-Sweetened Beverages Is Associated With Reduced Blood Pressure: A Prospective Study Among United States Adults

• Published in: Circulation (New York, N.Y.) N.Y.), 2010-06, Vol.121 (22), p.2398-2406
• Main Authors: LIWEI CHEN, CABALLERO, Benjamin, APPEL, Lawrence J, MITCHELL, Diane C, LORIA, Catherine, LIN, Pao-Hwa, CHAMPAGNE, Catherine M, ELMER, Patricia J, ARD, Jamy D, BATCH, Bryan C, ANDERSON, Cheryl A. M
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Beverages - adverse effects; Biological and medical sciences; Blood and lymphatic vessels; Blood Pressure - drug effects; Blood Pressure - physiology; Cardiology. Vascular system; Cardiovascular system; Dietary Sucrose - administration & dosage; Dietary Sucrose - adverse effects; Diseases of the peripheral vessels. Diseases of the vena cava. Miscellaneous; Female; Humans; Hypertension - chemically induced; Hypertension - epidemiology; Hypertension - prevention & control; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Prospective Studies; Sweetening Agents - administration & dosage; Sweetening Agents - adverse effects; United States - epidemiology; Vasodilator agents. Cerebral vasodilators
• ISSN: 0009-7322; 1524-4539
• DOI: 10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.109.911164

Increased consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) has been associated with an elevated risk of obesity, metabolic syndrome, and type II diabetes mellitus. However, the effects of SSB consumption on blood pressure (BP) are uncertain. The objective of this study was to determine the relationship between changes in SSB consumption and changes in BP among adults. This was a prospective analysis of 810 adults who participated in the PREMIER Study (an 18-month behavioral intervention trial). BP and dietary intake (by two 24-hour recalls) were measured at baseline and at 6 and 18 months. Mixed-effects models were applied to estimate the changes in BP in responding to changes in SSB consumption. At baseline, mean SSB intake was 0.9+/-1.0 servings per day (10.5+/-11.9 fl oz/d), and mean systolic BP/diastolic BP was 134.9+/-9.6/84.8+/-4.2 mm Hg. After potential confounders were controlled for, a reduction in SSB of 1 serving per day was associated with a 1.8-mm Hg (95% confidence interval, 1.2 to 2.4) reduction in systolic BP and 1.1-mm Hg (95% confidence interval, 0.7 to 1.4) reduction in diastolic BP over 18 months. After additional adjustment for weight change over the same period, a reduction in SSB intake was still significantly associated with reductions in systolic and diastolic BPs (P