Snack and soft drink sweetener putting millions at risk of high blood pressure

By Daily Mail Reporter

Last updated at 1:52 PM on 30th October 2009

A sugary ingredient in processed snacks and soft drinks is
putting millions at risk of high blood pressure, new research has
revealed.High fructose corn syrup (HFCS) is abundant in many types of
foods and beverages and was originally viewed as a “healthy” method of
sweetening. Its introduction 20 years ago has caused consumption of the
fruit sugar fructose to rise sharply, alongside increasing levels of
obesity. Although healthy amounts of fructose exist naturally in fruit,
excessive amounts of the sugar may be harmful. Large quantities of
fructose cause the liver to pump fats into the bloodstream that may
damage arteries.

Researchers who carried out the new study in the US looked
at more than 4,500 adults with no prior history of high blood pressure,
also known as hypertension. Fructose intake was calculated using a
dietary questionnaire which asked participants to rate their consumption
of foods such as fruit juices, soft drinks, bakery products and
confectionery. The study found that people who ate or drank more than 74
grams of fructose per day – equivalent to 2.5 sugary soft drinks –
increased their risk of developing high blood pressure. In Britain, 16
million people suffer from high blood pressure, which is often referred
to as the ‘silent killer’ because only one in three are aware they have
it.

Blood pressure readings consist of two figures. The first
“systolic” reading relates to when the heart is actively pumping. The
second “diastolic” reading shows the blood pressure between beats.
“Normal” blood pressure is said to be a reading of around 120/80
millimetres of mercury (mmHg) depending on age. Consuming more than 74
grams of fructose a day increased the chances of a reading of 135/85mmHg
by 28%, the study found. It also raised the risk of higher readings of
140/90mmHg and 160/100mmHg by 36% and 87% respectively.

The findings were presented today at the annual meeting of the American Society of Nephrology in San Diego, California.

Dr Diana Jalal, from the University of Colorado, and colleagues wrote in
their paper: “These results indicate that high fructose intake in the
form of added sugars is significantly and independently associated with
higher blood pressure levels in the US adult population with no previous
history of hypertension.”

Further work was needed to see if lowering fructose consumption could normalise blood pressure, they said.
Americans today consumed 30% more fructose than they did 20 years ago
and up to four times more than they did 100 years ago, said the
researchers.

Source: Mail Online, http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1224033/Snack-soft-drink-sweetener-putting-millions-risk-high-blood-pressure.html#comments