How sugary drinks could raise heart disease risk.

ISLAMABAD -- Individuals who have a preference for sugary drinks may be more at risk of cardiovascular disease, a new study suggests. The research associates sweetened beverage consumption with abnormal cholesterol markers, which may spell trouble for heart health in long run. As many as 17.9 million people die each year because of cardiovascular disease an umbrella term that refers to different conditions affecting the heart and vascular system.

Among the main risk factors for cardiovascular disease are diet, high blood pressure (hypertension), as well as elevated levels of blood sugar and cholesterol. An abnormal level of lipids in the blood called dyslipidaemia is one of the metabolic disorders that doctors try to avert as part of cardiovascular disease prevention. But to do so, specialists must also understand the factors that may contribute to dyslipidaemia. New research led by investigators from the Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts University in Boston, MA now shows that older adults may be more prone to dyslipidaemia if they drink sugary beverages on a daily basis.

The study findings appear in the Journal of the American Heart Association. They indicate that older adults who have a keen preference for sweetened drinks have heightened levels of triglycerides and lowered high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol. This, they say, could later contribute to dyslipidaemia that may, in turn, affect cardiovascular health in the long run. 'Our findings show that what we put in our glass may contribute to greater risk of cardiovascular disease via worsening of lipid levels,' says study co-author Nicola McKeown, Ph.D., who is a nutritional epidemiologist. 'Managing blood cholesterol and triglyceride levels is an important goal and a promising strategy for preventing heart attack and...