Increased fructose intake linked to higher blood pressure

Issue: January 2011

Fructose intake in the form of added sugar may be independently associated with elevated blood pressure levels in adults without a history of hypertension, according to new data.

“The US population ingests large amounts of fructose from added sugar nowadays, and this large intake may be associated with an increased risk of high BP in the general population,” Diana Jalal, MD, study author and assistant professor at the University of Texas Medical school at Houston told Endocrine Today.

The cross-sectional analysis of 4,528 adults with no history of hypertension generated data through the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES).

On average, adults were consuming 2.5 sugar-sweetened soft drinks, or 74 g of fructose, per day.

Researchers reported that increased fructose intake (>74 g daily) was associated with higher odds of elevated BP levels. This intake led to a 26% (>135/85 mmHg), 30% (>140/90 mmHg), and 77% (>160/100 mmHg) higher risk for blood pressure cutoffs of >135/85.

“Although the mechanism by which fructose may lead to high BP couldn’t be addressed in our study (by virtue of the design being cross sectional epidemiological study), it is important to educate our patients not only about salt but also about the potential risks of high intake of fructose from added sugars, and that making relevant changes to our diet may reduce the risk of high BP in our population,” Jalal said.

Jalal DI. J Am Soc Nephrol. 2010;164:doi:10.1001.