Drinking sugary beverages starting in childhood may increase adult blood pressure risk
People who drank more fruit juice, soda, and sports drinks beginning in childhood had a greater risk of high blood pressure as adults than those who drank fewer sweet beverages, according to a new study led by researchers from Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. The researchers found that replacing one daily sugary beverage with whole fruit, milk, or water lowered risk.
The study was published June 22 in Circulation.
The researchers looked at dietary and health data from 25,000 people recruited to the Growing Up Today Study as children and followed them over 25 years. They found that participants who drank two or more 12-ounce servings of sugary beverages per day had a 52% higher risk of developing high blood pressure as adults compared to those who consumed less than three servings per week.
High blood pressure damages blood vessels and can lead to heart disease, stroke, and other serious conditions.
“Dietary habits in early life can have lasting health consequences,” said senior study author Vasanti Malik, adjunct assistant professor of nutrition, in an American Heart Association press release. “High blood pressure is also emerging earlier in life, with growing rates being seen in younger adults, in children, and adolescents, which highlights the importance of early detection and prevention.”
Read the American Heart Association press release: Does drinking juice, soda during childhood increase the risk of high blood pressure?
Read news coverage: Drinking fruit juice and other sugary treats as a kid may increase the risk for long-term health problems (The Independent)
