'FREE SUGAR' INTAKE LINKED WITH CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE; STUDY

According to a recent study, consuming more free sugars i.e. both added sugars and those found naturally in honey and fruit juice could increase your risk of developing cardiovascular disease. The results back up the global dietary recommendation to keep free sugar consumption to less than 5% of total daily energy intake.

These findings were published in BMC Medicine. The authors suggested that replacing free sugars with non-free sugars, mostly those that naturally occur in whole fruits and vegetables and a higher fibre intake may help protect against cardiovascular disease.

The study team examined information from 110,497 UK Biobank participants who had completed at least two dietary assessments. Participants were tracked for about 9.4 years during which time 4,188, 3,138, and 1,124 participants, respectively, experienced total cardiovascular disease, heart disease, and stroke.

It was discovered that outcomes for cardiovascular disease and total carbohydrate intake were unrelated. However, when examining the types and sources of carbohydrates consumed, they discovered that a higher intake of free sugar from foods like sugary drinks, fruit juice, and sweets was linked to a higher risk of all outcomes related to cardiovascular disease.

For each 5% higher total energy from free sugars, the associated risk of total cardiovascular disease was 7% higher. It was found that the risk of heart disease was 6% higher, while the risk of stroke was 10% higher.

Moreover, consuming five grams higher fibre per day was associated with a 4% lower risk of total cardiovascular disease, but after accounting for body mass index (BMI), this association did not remain noteworthy.