Extremely low sugar intake may not be necessary to prevent heart disease

Key Takeaways:

• High consumption of added sugar, especially from sugar-sweetened beverages, was linked to an increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD).
• Moderate consumption of sugar, particularly from treats like pastries and ice cream, did not negatively impact heart health and was associated with reduced CVD risk.
• Researchers suggested that extremely low sugar intake may not be essential for heart disease prevention, and moderate treat consumption could be part of a healthy lifestyle.

Summary

A study published in Frontiers in Public Health explored the relationship between added sugar intake and cardiovascular disease risk, highlighting that the source of sugar plays a significant role. While sugar from sweetened beverages was linked to higher CVD risk, moderate consumption of sugar from treats showed no such adverse effect and, in some cases, correlated with lower risk.

Key Findings:

1. Sugar-Sweetened Beverages:
   • Consuming more than eight servings per week was associated with increased risk of ischemic stroke (19%), heart failure (18%), atrial fibrillation (11%), and abdominal aortic aneurysm (31%).
2. Treats (e.g., pastries, ice cream, chocolate):
   • Moderate consumption was associated with lower CVD risk. Individuals consuming treats two or fewer times weekly had the highest CVD risk compared with moderate consumers.
3. Added Sugar and Total Energy Intake:
   • Energy from added sugars exceeding 20% of daily intake increased risk for abdominal aortic aneurysm by 31% and ischemic stroke by 9%.
   • A moderate intake of added sugar (5% to 7.5% of daily energy) was linked to reduced risks of ischemic stroke (8%), myocardial infarction (5%), heart failure (9%), aortic stenosis (9%), and atrial fibrillation (7%).
   • Extremely low sugar intake (<5% of daily energy) was not associated with additional health benefits.
4. Toppings (e.g., sugar, honey, jams):
   • Consuming two or more servings weekly was associated with lower risk for heart failure and aortic stenosis. However, consuming 28 or more servings weekly increased abdominal aortic aneurysm risk by 34%.

Contextual Insights:

• The study included 69,705 Swedish adults aged 45-83 years from two cohorts: the Swedish Mammography Cohort and the Cohort of Swedish Men. Participants completed dietary and lifestyle questionnaires in 1997 and 2009, with cardiovascular outcomes tracked until 2019.
• Lead researcher Suzanne Janzi, PhD candidate at Lund University, noted that sugar’s impact depends on its source and consumption context. Beverages often lack satiety, encouraging overconsumption, whereas treats are often consumed socially and less frequently.
• Swedish cultural habits, such as “fika” (coffee and pastry breaks), may influence these findings and limit generalizability to other populations.

Conclusion:
The study suggests that moderate sugar intake, particularly from solid treats, is not detrimental to cardiovascular health and may even have protective effects. While reducing sweetened beverage consumption is crucial, extremely restrictive sugar diets may not be necessary for preventing CVD.