Do sugary beverages elevate the risk of atrial fibrillation?

CVD, a global health issue, relates to factors like high BMI, alcohol, and smoking. While sugar-sweetened beverages and fruit juices are linked to CVD, the causal relationship is uncertain. Cutting back on sugary drinks may reduce CVD risk, but fruit juice intake may still be a predictor. Despite nutrient benefits, limiting fruit juice intake is advised due to its high sugar content.

In the study, researchers investigated whether sugar-sweetened beverages and pure fruit juices consumption increased CVD risk by assessing genetically estimated causal relationships between sugar-sweetened beverages, pure fruit juices, and six CVDs using Mendelian randomization. The team obtained dietary intake data of 85,852 individuals by conducting a genome-wide association study.

The analysis showed genetically, sugar-sweetened beverages are causally associated with atrial fibrillation, but not with other cardiovascular disease risks. Pure fruit juices lack such associations. Sugar-sweetened beverages contain additives like sodium citrate, potentially raising atrial fibrillation risk. Meanwhile, the anti-inflammatory properties of pure fruit juices may lower CVD incidence by preventing plaque development and platelet aggregation. 

The findings highlighted the impact of long-term sugar-sweetened beverages/pure fruit juice intake on cardiovascular disease (CVD) and recommended dietary choices for people who are at risk. Patients with atrial fibrillation should limit their sugar-sweetened beverage consumption to prevent potential pathogenic hazards, whereas, individuals may incorporate pure fruit juice into their diet as a protective factor against CVD.

Reference: Xie, H., Liu, Y., Gu, X., et al., (2024) Association between sugar-sweetened beverages and pure fruit juice with risk of six cardiovascular diseases: a Mendelian randomization study. Eur J Clin Nutr. doi:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41430-024-01441-9. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41430-024-01441-9