Naturally sweet drinks may increasediabetes risk

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3 years ago

While researchers already knew that

drinks with added sugar could increase

a person's risk of type 2 diabetes, a new

study suggests that the same may be

true for naturally sweet drinks, such as

100% fruit juices, as well as artificially

sweetened beverages, such as "diet" soft

drinks.

A new study suggests that even 100% natural fruit

juices may increase the risk of diabetes.

Research has shown that drinking soft drinks with

added sugar can increase a person's risk of

developing type 2 diabetes by affecting subtle

metabolic mechanisms .

But are "diet" soda and 100% fruit juices that

contain a natural level of fructose but no added

sugar any healthier?

The evidence surrounding diet soda and its effect

on diabetes risk has been conflicting. Some studies

suggest that it might have an impact, while others

report that there is no association between the two.

Most people believe that naturally sweet drinks are

healthful. However, recent research has shown that

they are not nearly as good for us as we think. One

study that we covered on Medical News Today in

July this year, for instance, indicated that they could

increase a person's risk of cancer.

Now, research from an international team of

investigators from Harvard T. H. Chan School of

Public Health in Boston, MA and Fudan University

in Shanghai, China, suggests that all sugary drinks,

including natural fruit juices and artificially

sweetened beverages, could increase diabetes risk.

However, the study, which appears in the journal

Diabetes Care, also offers some hope. It notes that

people can decrease this risk by replacing sugary

drinks of any kind with non-sweetened beverages,

such as water, tea, and coffee .

Sugary drinks linked to 16%

increase in risk

Drouin-Chartier and colleagues analyzed data

collected over 22–26 years from 76,531 women

enrolled in the Nurses' Health Study between 1986–

2012, 81,597 women enrolled in the Nurses' Health

Study II between 1991–2013, and 34,224 men from

the Health Professionals' Follow-up Study , enrolled

between 1986–2012.

The researchers gave the participants questionnaires

that asked them how often they consumed certain

foods and beverages. By analyzing the results, the

study authors found out how often participants

drank certain sugary drinks and were able to

calculate any changes in their drink consumption

patterns.

The researchers found that people who increased

their total intake of soft drinks with added sugars

and naturally sweet fruit drinks by over 4 ounces

(oz) per day over 4 years saw an associated

diabetes risk increase of 16% over the following 4

years.

However, those who increased their total intake of

artificially sweetened beverages — such as diet

soda — by the same quantity over the same period

saw an associated 18% increase in the risk of

developing type 2 diabetes.

These associations remained in place even after the

researchers adjusted for confounding variables,

including body mass index ( BMI ), different dietary

changes, and relevant lifestyle habits.

The investigators caution, however, that the finding

regarding artificially sweetened beverages may be

unreliable because it remains unclear which way the

association runs. They explain that people who

know that they are already at high risk of

developing diabetes may switch from sugary drinks

to diet sodas to try and mitigate that risk.

Moreover, the study authors also point out the risk

of surveillance bias in their research. This refers to

the fact that people who are at high risk of

developing diabetes are more likely to undergo

screenings for diabetes, therefore receiving a

diagnosis sooner than other individuals.

Overall, the research suggests that people might

want to consider caution about their intake of sweet

drinks of all kinds. It also found that switching to

unsweetened drinks could help reduce diabetes

risk.

More specifically, replacing one daily serving of a

sweet drink with water or unsweetened coffee or

tea was associated with a 2–10% lower risk of

type 2 diabetes.

"The study results are in line with current

recommendations to replace sugary beverages with

noncaloric beverages free of artificial sweeteners,"

notes senior author Prof. Frank Hu, from Harvard

T.H. Chan School of Public Health.

Nor should people overestimate the benefits of

natural juices. "Although fruit juices contain some

nutrients, their consumption should be moderated,"

he stresses.

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It's causes diabetes.

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