There's a 'Sweet Spot' for Daily Sugar Intake & Heart Health

Follow Drugslib on

Medically reviewed by Carmen Pope, BPharm. Last updated on Dec 9, 2024.

By Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter

MONDAY, Dec. 9, 2024 -- When it comes to sweets, the type a person chooses can have a significant impact on their heart health, a new study finds.

Sugary drinks significantly increase a person’s risk of stroke, heart failure, irregular heartbeat and other heart health problems, results showed.

But adding honey to a bowl of oatmeal or eating an occasional sweet pastry doesn’t appear to drastically harm heart health, and in some cases might improve it, researchers found.

“The most striking finding from our study is the divergent relationship between different sources of added sugar and cardiovascular disease risk,” said researcher Suzanne Janzi, a doctoral candidate at Lund University in Sweden.

“This surprising contrast highlights the importance of considering not just the amount of sugar consumed, but its source and context,” Janzi said.

For the study, researchers analyzed data collected from nearly 70,000 Swedes participating in two long-term health studies. Participants responded to diet questionnaires as part of the studies.

The team looked specifically at three sources of sugar -- toppings like honey, treats like pastries and sugary beverages.

During a follow-up period that ended in 2019, nearly 26,000 of the participants had been diagnosed with a heart problem, researchers found.

Sugary drinks wound up being worse for a person’s heart health than any other source of sugar.

“Liquid sugars, found in sweetened beverages, typically provide less satiety than solid forms -- they make you feel less full -- potentially leading to overconsumption,” Janzi explained.

“Context also matters -- treats are often enjoyed in social settings or special occasions, while sweetened beverages might be consumed more regularly,” Janzi added.

Increased sugar in general caused a rise in a person’s risk for stroke and heart failure.

However, consuming an occasional sugary treat was associated with better health outcomes than not eating any treats at all, researchers found.

“This might reflect underlying dietary behaviors -- individuals consuming very little sugar might have very restrictive diets or might be limiting sugar due to preexisting health conditions,” Janzi said.

“While our observational study cannot establish causation, these findings suggest that extremely low sugar intake may not be necessary or beneficial for cardiovascular health,” Janzi added.

The findings were published in the journal Frontiers in Public Health.

More work will be needed to fully understand why different sources of sugar might have different effects on heart health, particularly in other parts of the world, researchers said.

“Our findings are based on a Swedish population, which may have dietary habits and lifestyle factors that differ from those in other populations,” Janzi said in a journal news release.

“Particularly relevant in this context is the social custom of ‘fika’ -- regular coffee and pastry breaks that are deeply embedded in Swedish culture,” Janzi added. “These results may not directly translate to other populations with different dietary cultures.”

Sources

  • Frontiers, news release, Dec. 9, 2024

    • Disclaimer: Statistical data in medical articles provide general trends and do not pertain to individuals. Individual factors can vary greatly. Always seek personalized medical advice for individual healthcare decisions.

    Source: HealthDay

    Posted : 2024-12-10 00:00

    Read more

    Disclaimer

    Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Drugslib.com is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Drugslib.com information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Drugslib.com does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Drugslib.com's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Drugslib.com's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners.

    The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Drugslib.com does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Drugslib.com provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.

    Popular Keywords