Artificially Sweetened Beverages Increase Risk of Irregular Heartbeat, Study Finds
Estimated read time: 4-5 minutes
ATLANTA — A new study has found that consuming two liters or more per week of artificially sweetened beverages,
equivalent to a medium-sized fast-food diet soda a day, raises the risk of developing an irregular heartbeat
known as atrial fibrillation by 20% when compared to non-consumers. The study highlights the potential health risks associated with these types of drinks.
Negative Impact of Artificial Sweeteners
Atrial fibrillation, commonly referred to as A-fib, results in heart palpitations, irregular heartbeats, and has
been associated with an increased risk of strokes. The study found that consuming a similar number of
sugar-sweetened beverages raised the risk of atrial fibrillation by 10%. However, drinking small amounts of
unsweetened juices, such as orange or vegetable juice, was associated with an 8% lower risk of developing
atrial fibrillation.
Penny Kris-Etherton, a professor emeritus of nutritional sciences at Pennsylvania State University, stated,
“This is the first study to report an association between no- and low-calorie sweeteners, as well as
sugar-sweetened beverages, and an increased risk of atrial fibrillation.” However, Kris-Etherton emphasizes
the need for further research to fully comprehend the health consequences of these beverages on heart disease
and other conditions.
The study showed an association between sweetened beverages and atrial fibrillation, even after accounting for
genetic susceptibility to the condition. A previous study published in 2017 found that people with European
ancestry had a 22% risk of inheriting the condition. Hence, it is advised to limit or avoid the consumption
of sweetened beverages and choose water as the best alternative.
Dangerous Rise of Atrial Fibrillation
Atrial fibrillation is the leading cause of stroke in the United States, and it has more severe
consequences compared to strokes caused by other conditions. Furthermore, A-fib can lead to blood clots, heart
failure, and increase the risk of heart attacks, kidney disease, and dementia.
The prevalence of atrial fibrillation is steadily increasing, with nearly 40 million people worldwide and 6
million in the United States alone living with the condition. The CDC estimates that by 2030, around
12 million Americans will suffer from atrial fibrillation.
Influence of Risk Factors
Risk factors contributing to the rising numbers of atrial fibrillation include the aging population, obesity,
high blood pressure, diabetes, chronic kidney disease, smoking, and excessive alcohol consumption.
Naveed Sattar, a professor of metabolic medicine at the University of Glasgow, Scotland, explains that high
soft drink consumption is already associated with an increased risk of atrial fibrillation. Additionally, the
condition is also linked to Type 2 diabetes, binge drinking, and illicit drug use.
Research Analysis and Recommendations
The study, published in the journal Circulation: Arrhythmia and Electrophysiology, analyzed data from the UK
Biobank, including nearly 202,000 participants. The analysis took place over an average of 10 years and
involved individuals between the ages of 37 to 73. The study revealed that higher consumers of artificially
sweetened beverages were more likely to be female, younger, have a higher body weight, and an increased
prevalence of Type 2 diabetes.
Conversely, those who consumed more sugar-sweetened beverages were more likely to be male, younger, have a
higher body weight, and a higher prevalence of heart disease. People who consumed both sugar-sweetened
beverages and pure juice showed a higher total sugar intake compared to those who consumed artificially
sweetened drinks.
Lead study author Dr. Ningjian Wang, a professor at the Shanghai Ninth People’s Hospital and Shanghai Jiao Tong
University School of Medicine, recommends reducing or avoiding the consumption of both artificially sweetened
and sugar-sweetened beverages whenever possible, given the study’s findings. Wang advises against assuming
that low-sugar and low-calorie artificially sweetened beverages are automatically healthy.
