Just one can of full-fat fizzy juice a day in middle-age may increase the risk of a heart attack or stroke, according to new research.
The sugar-laden beverages send cholesterol levels soaring – increasing the risk of clots that cut off blood supply to the heart or brain.
Researchers from Tufts University in Massachusetts studied almost 6,000 over 40s for 12 years.
They found daily drinkers were twice as prone to low levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) which helps keep arteries unblocked.
Compared to those who rarely touched soda, the group were also 53 per cent more likely to have large amounts of triglycerides – a fat that clogs up blood vessels and arteries.
Raised levels of triglycerides and low levels of HDL are a tell-tale sign of dyslipidemia, a condition that affects an estimated 1.5million people in the UK.
It has been dubbed the ‘silent killer’ because less than half of people are diagnosed and many are unaware of it until they suffer a stroke or heart attack.
The sugar-laden drinks send cholesterol levels soaring – increasing the risk of clots that cut off blood supply to the heart or brain
Lead study author Professor Nicola McKeown, a nutritionist at Tufts University, said: ‘The results suggest high intake of drinks with added sugar, such as soda, lemonade or fruit punch, may influence risk for dyslipidemia as we age.
‘One dietary strategy to help maintain healthier blood cholesterol and triglyceride levels may be to avoid drinks with added sugars.’
Co-author Danielle Haslam added: ‘Our findings contribute to the mounting evidence that sugary drinks should be avoided to help maintain long-term health.’
Cardiovascular disease is the UK’s number one killer, claiming 170,000 lives a year. It affects around seven million Britons, and is responsible for one in four premature deaths.
The latest study analysed data from more than 5,900 middle aged and older US residents who were tracked for about 12 years.
High consumption of sugary beverages was linked to low HDL and high triglyceride levels.
This remained the case even for the youngest participants who were still in their 40s, said first author Dr Danielle Haslam – who is based in the same lab.
She said: ‘With these younger participants, we did see unfavourable changes, but they were likely too young during the short follow-up period to know if they would eventually develop dyslipidemia.
‘Our findings contribute to the mounting evidence that sugary drinks should be avoided to help maintain long-term health.’
Adults who drank at least one sugary beverage daily four years before an assessment of blood fats or lipids were 98 and 53 percent more likely to have low good cholesterol and high triglycerides, respectively.
The researchers observed similar results when they examined long-term intakes of the drinks throughout the 12-year study period.
Elevated bad LDL (low-density lipoprotein) cholesterol and triglycerides, along with low good cholesterol levels, indicate a higher risk for heart disease.
The researchers also studied 100 per cent fruit juice and diet drinks, common replacements for sugar-sweetened beverages, but found no consistent associations with adverse changes in cholesterol and increased risk of dyslipidemia. But they still urge moderation.
Prof McKeown said: ‘We are better off quenching our thirst with water. The emerging research on long-term consumption of diet soda on health is inconclusive, so it’s prudent to say diet drinks should only be an occasional indulgence.
‘As for 100 per cent fruit juice, best to limit consumption and consume whole fruits when possible, as recommended by the 2015-2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans.’
She added: ‘Our findings show what we put in our glass may contribute to greater risk of cardiovascular disease via worsening of lipid levels.
‘Managing blood cholesterol and triglyceride levels is an important goal and a promising strategy for preventing heart attack and stroke.’
As expected and consistent with previous research, sugary beverage consumption was not linked to an increased risk of higher bad cholesterol.
Changes in blood cholesterol and triglyceride concentrations were compared between exams. Participants self-reported the types and frequency of beverages they consumed.
They were members of the Framingham Heart Study, which has monitored multiple generations living in the Massachusetts town to identify contributors to cardiovascular disease.
The researchers took into account other factors known to influence cholesterol and triglyceride concentrations such as obesity, overall diet quality, physical activity, alcohol intake and the use of cholesterol-lowering drugs.
Deaths from heart and circulatory diseases among people under 75 are on the rise for the first time in 50 years.
The British Heart Foundation (BHF) says increasing rates of diabetes and obesity are partly responsible.
In 2017 there were 42,384 deaths in under-75s from heart and circulatory conditions, up from 41,042 in 2014.
The charity says the historic pace of progress in reducing these deaths ‘has slowed to a near standstill’.
Fizzy drinks have been linked to a host of other chronic conditions including cancer, diabetes and liver damage.