n 2020, there were 2.2 million new cases of type 2 diabetes and 1.2 million new cases of cardiovascular disease due to the consumption of sugary drinks. This was indicated by research published on Monday in the journal Nature Medicine, attributing 9.8% of global cases of the metabolic disorder and 3.1% of heart problems recorded in 184 countries worldwide to the intake of these beverages.
This means that one in every 10 cases of type 2 diabetes and one in every 30 diagnoses of cardiovascular disease are related to sugary drinks, as stated by the authors of the study led by scientists from Tufts University (Boston, USA). They estimated that the consumption of sugary drinks caused 80,278 deaths from diabetes and 257,962 deaths from cardiovascular diseases in 2020.
The majority of cases occurred in Latin America and the Caribbean, followed by Sub-Saharan Africa. The research found that in the mentioned American region, 24.4% of new cases of type 2 diabetes and 11.3% of cardiovascular problems were related to the consumption of sugary drinks, such as sodas, energy drinks, or processed juices. In Africa, consuming these products was associated with 21.5% of new diabetes cases and 10.5% of cardiovascular disease cases.
The particular cases of Colombia and Mexico are noteworthy, with 48% and 30% respectively of type 2 diabetes cases associated with sugary drinks.
Overall, the study discovered that there were more males than females affected, and the issue was more common in young adults rather than older individuals.
Numerous studies had previously pointed out this link between sugary drinks and a higher risk of developing heart problems and metabolic diseases.
Due to their characteristics, consuming sugary drinks is a very quick way to ingest a significant number of calories without feeling satiated.
In addition to contributing to weight gain, these rapid doses of glucose are linked to metabolic disorders, such as insulin resistance; they contribute to the production of visceral fat and activate inflammatory processes, explaining their relationship with cardiovascular diseases and diabetes.
To conduct their research, a large team of scientists from around the world led by Laura Lara-Castor and Dariush Mozaffarian from Tufts University analyzed information from the Global Dietary Database, a database that includes estimates of sugary drink consumption, along with data on obesity and diabetes rates, and developed a model to estimate the relationship between these factors in 184 countries worldwide.
The data from their work revealed a significant issue. "We need urgent evidence-based interventions to curb the global consumption of sugary drinks before more lives are cut short by their effects on diabetes and cardiovascular disease," stated Lara-Castor, who, after working at the Massachusetts center, now conducts research at the University of Washington, in a statement distributed by Tufts University.
When analyzing trends between 1990 and 2020, the researchers found that the greatest increase in the proportion of diabetes and cardiovascular disease cases attributable to the consumption of sugary drinks was in Sub-Saharan Africa, with an increase of 8.8% and 4.4%, respectively.
"Our data provide strong and clear evidence that the nutritional transition from a traditional diet to a Westernized one has largely occurred in much of the region, requiring urgent policies and public health measures," the researchers stated in the medical journal.
While acknowledging that their work has limitations, does not establish cause-effect relationships, and in some cases relies on limited data, they point out that the research also has strengths supporting the relevance of their conclusions.
"Our findings emphasize the need for targeted interventions that consider social inequalities and align with global health goals," they demand.
And they conclude: "Although some countries have already implemented policies to curb the consumption of sugary drinks, our study suggests that there is more work to be done. By identifying the most affected countries and subpopulations, our research can be useful in shaping effective policies and interventions that ultimately reduce the cardiometabolic burden of sugary drinks globally."