The Study
Association of sugar intake from different sources with cardiovascular disease incidence in the prospective cohort of UK Biobank participants
This study looked at what people ate and then watched to see who got heart problems later. It found that people who drank a lot of sugary soda were more likely to get heart disease, but it didn't prove that the soda caused it—maybe those people also ate worse or exercised less.
Analysis score
Maximum 72 for a cohort study.
Where the score came from
This study looked at how different kinds of sugar — like the kind in soda, fruit juice, candy, or fruit — affect your heart health over time.
Where does this study sit?
Reviews of RCTs (Meta-analyses)
Max 100Randomized Trials
Max 90Reviews of Cohort Studies
Max 85Cohort Studies
Max 72Reviews of Case-Control Studies
Max 63Case-Control Studies
Max 58Cross-Sectional & Case Series
Max 50Expert Opinion
Max 560 / 100
Quality score
Groups of people are followed over time to see who develops an outcome. Strong for identifying risk factors and associations, but cannot prove causation as firmly as RCTs.
Key takeaways
Summary
Based on the study abstract and findings.
- 1Yes — cutting out soda and fruit drinks could lower your heart disease risk, but eating whole fruits and veggies is protective.
- 2Avoiding all sugar isn't better — moderate amounts from natural sources may help.
- 3Soda and sugary drinks: more sugar = more heart disease risk.
- 4Fruit juice: a little is best, too much or too little is worse.
- 5Fruit and veggies: more sugar from them = less heart disease.
- 6Candy and treats: a little is best, too much or too little is worse.
Score breakdown, methodology, conflicts of interest, evidence analysis & raw study data
Publication
Journal
Nutrition Journal
Year
2024
Authors
S. M. Schaefer, Anna Kaiser, G. Eichner, Mathias Fasshauer
Related Content
Claims (6)
Consuming free sugars from milk-based drinks and tea or coffee is linked to a higher risk of cardiovascular disease, with the lowest risk occurring when no free sugars are consumed from these sources.
Consuming intrinsic sugars from fruits and vegetables at 14% of total daily energy intake is linked to the lowest risk of cardiovascular disease; lower or higher intake levels are linked to higher risk.
People who consume more free sugars from sugary drinks like soda and fruit juice have a higher risk of cardiovascular disease, with risk increasing linearly as sugar intake rises from 0% to 15% of daily energy intake.
Consuming too much or too little free sugar from solid foods is linked to higher risk of cardiovascular disease, with the lowest risk occurring when free sugar makes up 7% of total daily energy intake.
Consuming sugars from fruit juice at 5% of daily energy intake is linked to the lowest risk of cardiovascular disease. Both avoiding these sugars entirely and consuming them in large amounts are linked to higher risk.
People who consume large amounts of dietary sugar have a higher risk of developing heart disease.
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making health decisions.