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Blog author, Solai Buchanan is an experienced Registered Dietitian and Certified Diabetes Educator with an MS from Columbia Teachers College. She specializes in treating heart disease, diabetes, hypertension, high cholesterol, polycystic ovarian syndrome,and other chronic diseases. She is a provider at a full-service cardiology practice accepting most insurance and staffed with a primary care MD, pediatrician, and cardiologist. Call: 718.894.7907. NYCC is lead by Interventional Cardiologist Sanjeev Palta, MD, FSCAI, FACC. He trained at Cornell-Columbia Presbyterian Hospital and the State University Hospital of Brooklyn. He currently is an Attending Cardiologist at New York Methodist Hospital and Maimonides Medical Center. He is also an Assistant Clinical Professor in the Department of Medicine at Mount Sinai Medical Center. Having performed over 2000 invasive cardiac procedures Dr. Palta’s patients know they are in trusted hands.

Tuesday, February 4, 2014

EVEN WITHOUT WEIGHT GAIN, CONSUMPTION OF ADDED SWEETENERS INCREASES RISK OF DYING FROM HEART DISE

A recent analysis from the Center for Disease Control indicates regular consumption of too much sugar and other added sweeteners increases the risk of dying from heart disease, even when one maintains a healthy weight. The study also concluded that most Americans are consuming far more sugar than is recommended.

The results are based on data collected from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey which has tracked the eating patterns of over 31,000 U.S. residents from 1988 through 2010.  The study found that over the period of the survey, the average adult took in about 16% of their calories from added sweeteners, and 10% of adults got more than 25% of their calories from added sweeteners.  The natural sugars in juice were not included in the study although it is likely these impact the body similarly to added sugars.

The study found that compared to people who got less than 10% of their daily calories from added sugars, those taking in 10-25% of their calories from added sugar were 30% more likely to die of cardiovascular disease during the study period. And, those who got 25% or more of their calories from added sugar were more than twice as likely to die of cardiovascular disease.  The relationship between sweetener consumption and cardiovascular related death rates was independent of other factors known to impact heart health including weight, smoking, age, gender, physical activity, socioeconomic status, and other aspects of an unhealthy diet.

Added sugars include all caloric sweeteners that are incorporated into foods including brown sugar, syrup, and honey.  Sugar-sweetened beverages are by far the single largest source of added sugar in the American diet, accounting for 37.1% of all that is consumed nationally.  A typical can of regular soda contains 35-40 grams of sugar (7-8% of a 2,000 calorie diet) while a 20-oz bottle has 65-75g of sugar (13-15% of a 2000 calorie diet).  How much sugar intake is too much?  This is still a matter of debate.  The Institute of Medicine recommends added sugars make up less than 25% of a person's daily calories, while the World Health Organization suggests the limit should be much lower, no more than 10% of caloric intake.  And, the American Heart Association sets the limit for added sugars at 100 calories per day for women (about 6 teaspoons) and 150 calories (about 9 teaspoons) per day for men.  This study's results corroborate the recommendations from the American Heart Association, limiting sugar to no more than 15% of caloric intake. 

Aside from leading to weight gain, excessive intake of added sugar appears to negatively affect health in several ways. It has been linked to the development of high blood pressure, increased triglycerides (blood fats), low HDL (good) cholesterol, fatty liver problems, as well as making insulin less effective in lowering blood sugar. 

What to do:  Avoid added sugar as much as possible.  Even at a healthy weight, a daily 20-oz serving of soda alone puts you over the limit of sugar intake.  Beware not only of foods we typically think of as sweets.  "Healthy foods" such as granola bars, cereal, sauces, canned & dried fruit, and yogurt contain substantial amounts of added sweeteners.   

Article adapted from:
http://www.medpagetoday.com/Cardiology/Prevention/44114
http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/02/03/us-sugar-diet-idUSBREA121IK20140203
http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2014/02/03/added-sugars-heart-disease-death/5183799/

Source:
Yang Q, Zhang Z, Gregg EW, Flanders W, Merritt R, Hu FB. Added Sugar Intake and Cardiovascular Diseases Mortality Among US Adults. JAMA Intern Med. 2014;():. bit.ly/1bW7SpA

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