In that heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States and among many developed nations worldwide, a number of researchers have investigated the role of diet as a contributing factor. Frank B. Hu, from Harvard School of Public Health (Massachusetts, USA), and colleagues studied data collected on 42,883 men, ages 40 to 75 years old, enrolled in the Health Professionals Follow-Up Study. The team found that men who drank 12 ounces of a sugar-sweetened beverage daily were at 20% increased risk of heart disease, and the risk persisted after controlling for confounding factors. Researchers also measured different lipids and proteins in the blood, which are indicators of inflammation, namely C-reactive protein (CRP), triglycerides, and high-density lipoproteins (HDL, “good” cholesterol). Compared to non-drinkers, those who consumed sugary beverages daily had higher triglyceride and CRP and lower HDL levels. The study authors warn that: “Consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages was associated with increased risk of [coronary heart disease] and some adverse changes in lipids, inflammatory factors, and leptin.”
