Researchers have been investigating the effects of sugar on cardiovascular health for decades, often with confounding results. It has been difficult to determine a direct relationship between sugar and heart issues, because so many other factors may contribute to cardiovascular risk, and more concrete conclusions can only be drawn when researchers conduct long-term studies. The American Heart Association issued a statement in 2002 in their official journal, summarizing the evidence supporting sugar and cardiovascular disease.
Coronary Heart Disease
The American Heart Association's 2002 report cited several clinical trials and found equivocal support for sugar's potentially harmful effects on the heart. The most substantial evidence linking sugar to adverse cardiovascular health were two studies published in the 1960s and 1970s, concluding that a high consumption of sugar leads to hormonal imbalances that may result in coronary heart disease. These studies just showed a correlation, however -- making it difficult for researchers to infer a cause-and-effect relationship between sugar and heart problems.
Obesity
A high-sugar diet may indirectly impact cardiovascular health by inducing weight gain. A direct relationship between sugar and weight gain is difficult to determine, because high-sugar diets are usually associated with high-fat, high-calorie diets as well. Nevertheless, if sugar contributes to an overall increase in caloric consumption, weight gain will result. Every increase in your body mass index beyond a normal level is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease.
Hypertension
The American Heart Association summarizes a study that links sugar to symptoms of hypertension in animals. Chronic hypertension can result in high blood pressure and the production of stress hormones, specifically cortisol, which may be harmful to the heart. Animal studies have the advantage of demonstrating causal relationships, but such studies often face criticism for not generalizing to human populations.
Recommendations
It is estimated that sugar accounts for about 25 percent of the average American's total caloric consumption, and the American Heart Association recommends reducing sugar intake to reduce cardiovascular risk. Adult men should consume no more than 150 calories from sugar each day, while women should limit sugar intake to 100 calories a day. Added sugars, such as those found in processed foods, are the main culprits to a high-sugar diet.
References
- "Circulation"; Sugar and Cardiovascular Disease; Barbara V. Howard and Judith Wylie-Rosett; 2002
- "Lipids"; Dietary Factors in Arteriosclerosis: Sucrose; J. Yudkin; May 1978
- "Practitioner"; Sugar and Ischaemic Heart Disease; J. Yudkin; May 1967
- "Journal of the American College of Nutrition"; Sugar-Induced Blood Pressure Elevations Over the Lifespan of Three Substrains of Wistar Rats; Harry G. Preuss et al.; 1998
- American Heart Association: Sugars and Carbohydrates
- American Heart Association: Body Composition Tests
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