Sugar-Sweetened Beverages
Sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) featured article
Sugar-sweetened beverages (SSB) include commonly consumed products such as soda, sports drinks, and energy drinks; coffee, tea, and water with added sugars; and some fruit juices, although not all nutrition experts agree on fruit juice’s inclusion as an SSB. While the consumption of SSBs has declined in recent decades, they remain a leading contributor to sugar intake among people living in the United States.
While the over-consumption of sugar from any source is harmful for health, SSBs present a physiologically unique risk to health due to a converging set of factors. Because they contain no supporting food matrix to slow absorption, SSBs are rapidly absorbed by the gut and cause blood sugar spikes. Sugars from fruits and vegetables are packaged with a matrix of fiber and micronutrients that reduce the rate of digestion. This slow digestion and absorption reduces blood sugar spikes and supports better glycemic control. Additionally, many SSBs [exceed the recommended maximum...
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Sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs)
Sugar-Sweetened Beverages and sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) are terminological synonyms denoting drinks formulated with added caloric sweeteners.
News & Publications
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Sugary drink sugars may help colorectal cancer spread by changing how tumor cells use energy https://doi.org/10.1038/s42255-025-01368-w
Sugar-sweetened beverages are often linked to a higher risk of developing colorectal cancer, but their impact on how the disease progresses once cancer has developed is less clear. To explore this, scientists investigated whether the two main sugars found in soft drinks—glucose and fructose—might directly promote the spread of colorectal cancer to other organs, and what biological processes could explain it.
The researchers used human colorectal cancer cells, lab-grown mini-tumors, and mouse models of metastasis. They compared what happened when the cells and animals were exposed to a mixture of glucose and fructose—similar to the combination found in high-fructose corn syrup—with what happened when they were given glucose alone. They then tracked how the sugars were used inside cells and tested what happened when key enzymes were switched off.
The addition of fructose to glucose dramatically altered how colorectal cancer cells acted, compared with glucose on its own:
- When glucose and fructose were given together, colorectal cancer cells became more mobile and better able to invade nearby tissue, while their growth rate stayed the same.
- In mice, the same sugar mix caused more liver tumors to form, even though the original intestinal tumors were unchanged in size.
- The effect depended on an enzyme called sorbitol dehydrogenase, or SORD, which helps cells convert sugars into other molecules.
- Tumors from people with colorectal cancer had higher SORD levels than normal colon tissue, particularly in more aggressive tumor cells.
- Disabling SORD in cancer cells stopped the sugars from promoting spread. Mice given SORD-deficient cells developed far fewer liver tumors, despite the same sugar exposure.
- Inside cells, glucose and fructose together caused SORD to work in reverse, turning fructose into sorbitol and increasing a chemical balance known as the NAD-plus to NADH ratio, which controls how cells process energy.
- This change sped up energy metabolism and activated the mevalonate pathway, a chain of reactions that makes cholesterol and other fat-related molecules needed for cell movement. Drugs called statins, which block this pathway, reduced metastasis in the mice.
When tumor cells rely on glucose alone, their main energy pathway, called glycolysis, can slow down because they run low on a molecule called NAD⁺, which is needed to keep the process going. Adding fructose changes that. Through the enzyme SORD, fructose is turned into another sugar alcohol, sorbitol, in a reaction that restores NAD⁺. This renewal of NAD⁺ allows glycolysis to continue efficiently, allowing the cells to draw more energy and carbon building blocks from glucose. Those extra resources then feed into other pathways that help cancer cells move and spread.
The study was done in cells and animals, so it does not prove the same effect happens in people. Still, it offers a clear biological explanation for how frequent intake of sugar-sweetened drinks could worsen colorectal cancer. The authors suggest that limiting such drinks may help reduce risk, and that drugs targeting SORD or the pathways it controls could one day help slow cancer spread.
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Daily sweetened drink intake raises diabetes risk: 23% for sugar-sweetened, 38% for artificially sweetened. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S126236362500059X
While sugar-sweetened drinks are a leading source of excess dietary sugar, artificially sweetened alternatives—often seen as healthier—are now under scrutiny for their potential harms, with many studies suggesting that both contribute to long-term metabolic disease. A recent study found that daily consumers of sugar-sweetened drinks had a 23% higher risk of type 2 diabetes, while those drinking artificially sweetened beverages daily faced a 38% higher risk.
Researchers analyzed data from more than 36,000 adults aged 40 to 69 years in the Melbourne Collaborative Cohort Study. Participants reported how often they drank sweetened beverages, ranging from less than once a month to once or more daily. The researchers accounted for a wide range of factors, including diet, physical activity, obesity, and socioeconomic status.
The analysis identified a clear association between frequent intake of sweetened beverages and a higher risk of type 2 diabetes. People who consumed sugar-sweetened beverages daily were 23% more likely to develop the disease, while those who drank artificially sweetened beverages daily faced an 83% higher risk. Even after accounting for differences in body weight and fat distribution, the elevated risk linked to artificially sweetened drinks remained statistically significant—at 38%. In total, more than 1,700 new cases of type 2 diabetes were recorded during the study period, with the highest rates observed among those who consumed sweetened beverages most frequently.
These findings suggest that both sugar and artificially sweetened beverages play a role in the development of type 2 diabetes, independent of obesity. Artificial sweeteners may harm the gut, too, ultimately influencing metabolic health. Learn more in this clip featuring Dr. Eran Elinav.
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Sugar-sweetened beverages are linked to 9.8% of new type 2 diabetes cases and 3.1% of new cardiovascular disease cases globally. www.nature.com
Sugar-sweetened beverages contribute to weight gain and increase the risk of severe health concerns, such as type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. A recent study revealed that in 2020, sugar-sweetened drinks were linked to 2.2 million new cases of type 2 diabetes and 1.2 million new cases of cardiovascular disease globally.
Researchers utilized the Global Dietary Database to assess the global, regional, and national effects of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease associated with sugar-sweetened beverage consumption in 184 countries, comparing data from 1990 to 2020. They also considered factors such as age, sex, education, and whether people lived in urban or rural areas to provide further context for the findings.
They found that sugar-sweetened beverages were associated with 9.8% of new type 2 diabetes cases and 3.1% of new cardiovascular disease cases in 2020. The burden was greatest in Latin America and the Caribbean, where sugar-sweetened beverages accounted for 24.4% of type 2 diabetes cases and 11.3% of cardiovascular disease cases. Sub-Saharan Africa also experienced a marked increase in type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease related to sugar-sweetened beverages over the past three decades.
These findings suggest that sugar-sweetened beverages have deleterious effects on human health and underscore the need for targeted interventions to reduce their consumption. Learn more about sugar-sweetened beverages in our overview article.
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Drinking more than eight sugar-sweetened drinks a week increases the risk of cardiovascular diseases by up to 31%. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
It’s no surprise that sugar-sweetened drinks can contribute to weight gain, dental problems, and metabolic impairments. But emerging evidence suggests they can also harm your heart. A recent study found that consuming more than eight sugar-sweetened drinks weekly increases the risk of various cardiovascular diseases by as much as 31%.
Researchers investigated links between sugar intake and cardiovascular disease among nearly 70,000 people. They asked participants about their sugar intake from various sugar-sweetened foods and drinks. Then, using national disease registers, they ascertained the incidence of various cardiovascular diseases, including ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke, myocardial infarction (heart attack), heart failure, aortic stenosis (narrowing of the aorta), atrial fibrillation (abnormal heart rhythm), and abdominal aortic aneurysm (ballooning of the major blood vessel in the abdomen).
They found that the risk of developing cardiovascular disease varied according to disease type and sugar source. However, drinking more than eight sugar-sweetened beverages weekly carried the greatest risk, increasing a person’s chances of ischemic stroke by 19%, heart failure by 18%, atrial fibrillation by 11%, and abdominal aortic aneurysms by 31%.
The investigators posited that sugar in beverages is readily metabolized, increasing its potential for harm. Learn more about the health effects of sugar-sweetened beverages in our overview article.
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Xylitol is a sugar alcohol commonly used as a sugar substitute in various processed foods, such as chewing gum and candies. A recent study found that xylitol consumption may increase the risk of major cardiovascular events. However, these findings should be interpreted with caution.
Researchers analyzed metabolic markers in blood samples from more than 1,100 people undergoing elective cardiac evaluations and measured blood xylitol levels in more than 2,100 healthy volunteers. Then, they assessed the effects of xylitol on platelet function and clot formation. Finally, they gave 10 healthy volunteers a xylitol-sweetened drink to determine how xylitol consumption influenced platelet function.
They found that people with the highest xylitol levels had a 57% higher risk of a major cardiovascular event than those with the lowest levels. Xylitol increased several markers of platelet reactivity and clot formation.
Xylitol and its relationship with platelet coagulation.
Study link: https://t.co/dSYmWwDZPT
Xylitol is a sugar alcohol commonly used as a sugar substitute in various processed foods, such as chewing gum and candies. A recent study found that xylitol consumption may increase the risk of major cardiovascular events.
Researchers analyzed metabolic markers in blood samples from more than 1,100 people undergoing elective cardiac evaluations and measured blood xylitol levels in more than 2,100 healthy volunteers. Then, they assessed the effects of xylitol on platelet function and clot formation. Finally, they gave 10 healthy volunteers a xylitol-sweetened drink to determine how xylitol consumption influenced platelet function.
They found that people with the highest xylitol levels had a 57% higher risk of a major cardiovascular event than those with the lowest levels. Xylitol increased several markers of platelet reactivity and clot formation.
These findings suggest that xylitol increases cardiovascular risks; however, they should be interpreted with caution. Learn more about this study and its interpretation in this recent Q&A with Dr. Rhonda Patrick.
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Increased intake of sugar-sweetened drinks raises cardiovascular disease risk by 18 percent with each additional serving, regardless of physical activity. ajcn.nutrition.org
Sugar-sweetened beverages encompass a wide variety of drinks, including soft drinks/sodas, sports drinks, energy drinks, and coffees. People who are physically active often consume sugar-sweetened sports drinks to replenish the electrolytes lost during exercise. While this can be beneficial during prolonged, intense physical activities, the added sugar content in many sports drinks might not be necessary for routine exercise or for people engaging in moderate physical activity. A recent study found that for every additional serving of sugar-sweetened beverages consumed daily, the risk of cardiovascular disease increased by 18 percent for physically active people and 12 percent for those who were inactive.
The study involved more than 105,000 adults enrolled in the Nurses' Health Study and the Health Professionals Follow-up Study who were healthy at the time of enrollment. Researchers gathered information from the participants regarding their physical activity, cardiovascular health, and consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages.
They found that participants who consumed more than two servings of sugar-sweetened beverages per day were 21 percent more likely to develop cardiovascular disease than those who rarely or never consumed them. For each additional serving of sugar-sweetened beverages consumed daily, the risk of cardiovascular disease increased by 18 percent for people who met physical activity guidelines and by 12 percent for those who did not, indicating that physical activity did not compensate for high sugar-sweetened beverage consumption. Participants who did not meet physical activity guidelines and consumed two or more servings per week of sugar-sweetened beverages were 47 percent more likely to develop cardiovascular diseases than those who were physically active and rarely or never drank them.
These findings suggest that consuming sugar-sweetened beverages markedly increases a person’s risk for cardiovascular disease. Furthermore, physical activity does not offset this risk. Learn more about the health effects of sugar-sweetened beverages in our overview article.
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Sugar-sweetened drinks linked to increased visceral fat www.sciencedaily.com
Sugar-sweetened beverage intake increases visceral fat.
Subcutaneous fat is stored just beneath the skin. Commonly associated with a “pear” shape, subcutaneous fat may protect against some diseases. Visceral fat, on the other hand, is stored in the abdominal cavity close to internal organs such as the liver, pancreas, and intestines. An excess of visceral fat, often referred to as central obesity or abdominal obesity, is commonly associated with an “apple” shape and an increased risk of developing many chronic diseases. Findings from a 2016 study suggest that sugar-sweetened beverage intake increases visceral fat deposition.
Sugar-sweetened beverages include commonly consumed products such as soda, sports drinks, energy drinks, and other beverages that contain added sugars. Many sugar-sweetened beverages exceed the recommended maximum daily added sugar intake of 25 grams in a single serving. They are the leading contributor to sugar intake among people living in the United States.
The investigation involved 1,160 participants enrolled in the Third Generation of the Framingham Heart Study who underwent repeated computed tomography scans (approximately six years apart) to assess the amount of fat in their abdominal region, including subcutaneous fat and visceral fat. Participants provided information about their dietary intake, physical activity, overall health, and whether they smoked. Investigators categorized the participants according to their sugar-sweetened beverage or diet soda intake, ranging from non-consumers (drinking none to less than one serving per month) to daily consumers (drinking one or more servings per day.
They found that sugar-sweetened beverage intake was associated with visceral fat gain in a dose-dependent manner, with daily consumers gaining 29 percent more visceral fat over a six-year period than non-consumers. These findings held true even after accounting for the participants' age, gender, physical activity, body mass index, and other factors. Drinking diet soda was not associated with visceral fat gain.
These findings suggest that drinking sugar-sweetened beverages increases visceral fat, potentially contributing to an increased risk of chronic disease. Learn more about sugar-sweetened beverages in our overview article.