Association of Sugary Beverage Consumption With Mortality Risk in US Adults: A Secondary Analysis of Data From the REGARDS Study

• Published in: JAMA network open 2019-05, Vol.2 (5), p.e193121
• Main Authors: Collin, Lindsay J, Judd, Suzanne, Safford, Monika, Vaccarino, Viola, Welsh, Jean A
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Beverages; Cardiovascular disease; Cause of Death; Cohort Studies; Female; Fruit and Vegetable Juices - adverse effects; Fruit juices; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Mortality; Nutrition Surveys; Nutrition, Obesity, and Exercise; Obesity - epidemiology; Obesity - mortality; Online Only; Original Investigation; Risk Factors; Stroke - epidemiology; Stroke - mortality; Sugar-Sweetened Beverages - adverse effects; United States - epidemiology
• ISSN: 2574-3805; 2574-3805
• DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2019.3121

Research has linked sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) consumption to coronary heart disease (CHD) risk, but the role of nutritionally similar fruit juice and the association of these beverages with mortality risk is unknown. To assess the association of SSBs and 100% fruit juices, alone and in combination (sugary beverages), with mortality. This cohort study is a secondary analysis of data obtained from 30 183 participants in the Reasons for Geographic and Racial Differences in Stroke (REGARDS) study. The REGARDS study was designed to examine modifiers of stroke risk. Enrollment took place from February 2003 to October 2007, with follow-up every 6 months through 2013. Overall, 30 183 non-Hispanic black and white adults 45 years and older were enrolled in the REGARDS study. Those with known CHD, stroke, or diabetes at baseline (12 253 [40.6%]) and those lacking dietary data (4490 [14.9%]) were excluded from the current study, resulting in a sample size of 13 440. Data were analyzed from November 2017 to December 2018. Sugar-sweetened beverage and 100% fruit juice consumption was estimated using a validated food frequency questionnaire and examined using categories of consumption that align with recommended limits for added sugar intake as a percentage of total energy (TE;