Sweet Drinks Raise Blood Pressure

When people think about the factors contributing to high blood pressure, they frequently point to excess sodium intake. Now a study in the journal Hypertension suggests that excess sugar could also be considered a culprit. Roughly 2700 people between 40 and 59 years of age were asked four times about their dietary habits. They also had their blood pressure measured repeatedly. People who consumed more sugar sweetened beverages, including fruit juice and lemonade as well as soda, were more likely to have elevated blood pressure compared with those who did not drink sugar-sweetened beverages. Fructose, found in fruit juice and frequently used to sweeten soft drinks, appears to be as problematic as sucrose. The investigators conclude that their findings lend support to the recommendation that people should reduce their intake of sugar sweetened beverages.
[Hypertension, online Feb. 28, 2011]