An analysis found that those consuming more than two liters a week of sweetened drinks face a significant risk of developing an erratic heart rhythm.
Indian cardiologists want people to stay away from such chilled, sweetened drinks. (Creative Commons)
April is still days away, and March has been particularly cruel this year.
The sun has been showing its dark side much earlier, especially in the Indian peninsula, thanks to an El Nino pattern that has left it hot and dry.
Gulping down an artificially sweetened cold drink — or sugary soda — may momentarily help in beating the heat. The sweet, chilled drink going down the throat gives temporary relief from the sweltering heat, and beverage companies push their products likening them to “cold” that many crave as the sun beats down on them.
However, downing such drinks takes one closer to a serious condition, atrial fibrillation (AFib). The risk of stroke is highest in those with AFib, a study has revealed.
Indian cardiologists, concurring with the findings of the study, want people to stay away from such chilled, sweetened drinks.
The meticulous analysis of health data from the UK Biobank, involving over 200,000 participants, is a wake-up call. The analysis found that those consuming more than two litres — six to eight cups — a week of these sweetened temptations face a significant risk of developing an erratic heart rhythm.
This condition not only disrupts the heartbeat but also quintuples the risk of getting a stroke.
The study published in Circulation: Arrhythmia and Electrophysiology, a journal of the American Heart Association, found a concerning association between the consumption of artificially sweetened and sugar-sweetened beverages and an increased risk of AFib.
The study examined dietary information and genetic data from over 200,000 UK Biobank participants who were initially free from AFib. Throughout a follow-up period that spanned nearly a decade, 9,362 cases of AFib were recorded among these individuals.
The findings revealed a 20 percent increased risk of AFib in individuals consuming more than two liters of artificially sweetened beverages per week and a 10 percent increase in those drinking similar amounts of sugar-sweetened drinks, compared to non-consumers.
Conversely, the research indicated an eight percent lower risk of AFib in individuals who consumed one liter or less per week of pure fruit juice, highlighting the potential heart health benefits of moderate natural juice intake.
Lead author Ningjian Wang emphasised the importance of maintaining caution in beverage choices, suggesting that artificially sweetened and sugar-sweetened beverages are best reduced or avoided.
Wang pointed out that the findings added to the growing body of evidence linking sweetened beverages to various health issues, including Type 2 diabetes and obesity, and now potentially an increased risk of AFib.
South First spoke to doctors from India about the importance of this study. They agreed that the study holds good for the Indian population as well. They said that India is grappling with an escalating burden of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), with heart disorders being a leading cause of mortality.
Understanding the factors that contribute to heart conditions, such as atrial fibrillation, is crucial for developing preventive strategies.
“Until now it was unclear if there are any side effects of consuming drinks containing artificial sweeteners. Now this study demonstrates that they increase the risk of AFib, which causes irregular heart rhythm and may lead to stroke,” Telangana-based interventional cardiologist Dr Mukherjee Madiwada told South First.
Explaining, he said the risk of AF increases by 10 percent with sugar-sweetened beverages but with artificially sweetened beverages it goes up by 20 percent.
“Sugar has been the bad boy of the diet, now artificial sweeteners have overtaken sugar, at least as far as the AFib is concerned,” he added.
Meanwhile, Dr Abhay M, an endocrinologist from Bengaluru said Indians might have a genetic predisposition to certain heart conditions and metabolic disorders like diabetes, making research into dietary factors and their effects on health relevant.
Experts argued that India has seen a surge in the consumption of both sugar-sweetened and artificially sweetened beverages, driven by urbanisation, changes in dietary habits, and aggressive marketing by beverage companies. This shift raises concerns given the potential health risks associated with these drinks.
Speaking to South First, Dr Arun Gupta, paediatrician and convenor of Nutrition Advocacy in Public Interest-NAPi India said, “This paper is another addition to the growing body of evidence of increasing consumption of sweetened drinks (which are ultra-processed food products) on the cardiovascular health of human beings. So, regulating such products should be a priority for the government of India,”
He added that regulation must include warning labels on such food/beverage products and restrictions on marketing and advertising.
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