Dietary sugars and subclinical vascular damage in moderate-to-high cardiovascular risk adults

Christiana Tsirimiagkou; Antonios Argyris; Kalliopi Karatzi; Ntouska Konstantina; Petros P Sfikakis; Athanase D Protogerou

doi:10.1016/j.numecd.2021.09.027

Dietary sugars and subclinical vascular damage in moderate-to-high cardiovascular risk adults

Nutr Metab Cardiovasc Dis. 2022 Jan;32(1):98-108. doi: 10.1016/j.numecd.2021.09.027. Epub 2021 Oct 8.

Authors

Christiana Tsirimiagkou¹, Antonios Argyris², Kalliopi Karatzi³, Ntouska Konstantina⁴, Petros P Sfikakis⁵, Athanase D Protogerou⁶

Affiliations

¹ Cardiovascular Prevention & Research Unit, Clinic & Laboratory of Pathophysiology, Department of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Greece; Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, School of Health Science and Education, Harokopio University of Athens, Greece.
² Cardiovascular Prevention & Research Unit, Clinic & Laboratory of Pathophysiology, Department of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Greece.
³ Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, Agricultural University of Athens, Greece; Hellenic Foundation for Cardiovascular Health and Nutrition, Athens, Greece.
⁴ Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, School of Health Science and Education, Harokopio University of Athens, Greece.
⁵ 1st Department of Propaedeutic and Internal Medicine & Joint Rheumatology Program, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Medical School, Greece.
⁶ Cardiovascular Prevention & Research Unit, Clinic & Laboratory of Pathophysiology, Department of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Greece; Hellenic Foundation for Cardiovascular Health and Nutrition, Athens, Greece. Electronic address: aprotog@med.uoa.gr.

PMID: 34823975
DOI: 10.1016/j.numecd.2021.09.027

Abstract

Background and aims: The association between dietary sugars and vascular damage has been scarcely examined out of the context of established cardiovascular disease. We aimed to investigate the association between different types of sugars with subclinical atheromatosis and arteriosclerosis, in individuals free of cardiovascular disease being, however, at moderate-to-high cardiovascular risk.

Methods and results: Two 24-h dietary recalls were conducted to estimate sugars intake. Subclinical atheromatosis was assessed by B-mode ultrasonography and arteriosclerosis (arterial stiffness) via tonometry (carotid-to-femoral pulse wave velocity). Multiple logistic regression analysis was performed to determine the relationship of quartiles of total sugars, monosaccharides and disaccharides with atheromatosis and arteriosclerosis, adjusting for potential confounders [Odds Ratio (95%Confidence Interval)]. In 901 participants (52.4 ± 13.8 years, 45.2% males), total sugars intake was not associated with any type of subclinical vascular damage. Subjects at 4th quartile of lactose intake (15.3 ± 5.5 g/day) had lower probability to present atheromatosis compared to those at 1st quartile (0.00 ± 0.01 g/day) even in the fully adjusted model [0.586 (0.353-0.974)]. Subjects at 3rd quartile of total disaccharides intake and particularly sucrose (15.1 ± 2.2 g/day) had higher probability to present arteriosclerosis compared to those at 1st quartile (3.0 ± 1.9 g/day) even after adjustment for all potential confounders [2.213 (1.110-4.409)].

Conclusions: Overall, the present data suggest a distinct role of each type of sugars on vascular damage. These observations highlight the need for further studies investigating not only foods rich in sugars, but sugars as separate components of food as they probably contribute via different ways on the development of arterial pathologies.

Keywords: Arterial stiffness; Atheromatosis; Dietary sugars; Disaccharides; Monosaccharides; Subclinical vascular damage.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Adult
Atherosclerosis*
Cardiovascular Diseases* / diagnostic imaging
Cardiovascular Diseases* / epidemiology
Dietary Sugars / adverse effects
Female
Heart Disease Risk Factors
Humans
Male
Pulse Wave Analysis
Risk Factors
Vascular Stiffness*

Substances

Dietary Sugars