Childhood Sugary Drink Consumption Linked to Higher Adult Hypertension Risk: Study

Drinking sugary beverages and fruit juice from childhood through adulthood may increase the risk of developing high blood pressure later in life, according to a study published in the journal Circulation.

Researchers found that people who regularly consumed sugar-sweetened drinks, including sodas, sports drinks, fruit punches, and sweetened teas, were more likely to develop high blood pressure as adults.

The study analyzed data from more than 25,000 participants who were followed from childhood and adolescence into adulthood for up to 25 years. Participants regularly reported their intake of sugary drinks, fruit juice, whole fruits, and other dietary habits, allowing researchers to examine how these patterns influenced future blood pressure risk.

Individuals who consumed two or more servings of sugar-sweetened beverages per day had a 52% higher risk of developing high blood pressure compared with those who drank fewer than three servings per week. Among specific beverage types, each daily serving of soda was linked to a 23% higher risk, while each daily serving of sports drinks was associated with a 36% higher risk.

The study also found that high consumption of fruit juice may not be as harmless as many people assume. Participants who drank at least 1.5 servings of fruit juice daily had a 35% higher risk of developing high blood pressure compared with those who consumed less than one serving per week.

In contrast, whole fruits were linked to healthier outcomes. Statistical modeling suggested that replacing one daily serving of sugary beverages with whole fruit could reduce the risk of high blood pressure by 22%. Similarly, replacing fruit juice with whole fruit was associated with a 19% lower risk. Substituting sugary drinks with water or milk was also linked to a modest reduction in risk.

The researchers emphasize that whole fruits provide fiber and other beneficial compounds that are largely lost during juice processing, helping explain why fruit and fruit juice may affect health differently.

Although the study was observational and cannot prove cause and effect, it highlights the potential long-term cardiovascular consequences of beverage choices made during childhood and adolescence.

REFERENCE: Nguyen, M., et al. (2026). Consumption of Fructose-Containing Food and Beverage Sources in Childhood Through to Adulthood and Risk of Hypertension: A Prospective Cohort Study. Circulation. DOI: 10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.125.077666. https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.125.077666