Effects of short-term sugary beverage consumption on glucose control and cardiovascular disease risk factors: A randomized controlled parallel-arm trial

J Am Coll Health. 2024 Jan;72(1):195-202. doi: 10.1080/07448481.2021.2024550. Epub 2022 Jan 26.

Abstract

Objective: To determine differences in glucose control and cardiovascular disease risk factors following three weeks of added soda, 100% fruit juice, or water in apparently healthy, college-aged adults.

Participants: Thirty-six adults (18 males; 18 females) between the ages of 18 and 30 years of age.

Methods: A 3-arm randomized controlled parallel-arm trial; at baseline and after three weeks consuming the assigned beverage, participants completed glucose control and cardiovascular disease risk factor assessments.

Results: There were no significant differences between beverage conditions for glucose control or cardiovascular disease risk factors (ps > 0.05). There were no significant changes in caloric intake or differences in caloric intake between conditions, p = 0.17.

Conclusions: In healthy, young adults, under free-living conditions, short-term consumption of two commercially packaged servings of SBs did not lead to significant glucose control or cardiovascular disease risk factor changes, indicating potential compensation and/or resilience to negative short-term effects.

Keywords: Dietary intake; disease risk; fruit juice; randomized controlled parallel-arm trial; sugar-sweetened beverages.

Publication types

  • Randomized Controlled Trial

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Beverages
  • Blood Glucose*
  • Cardiovascular Diseases* / prevention & control
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Students
  • Sugars
  • Universities
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Blood Glucose
  • Sugars