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 New evidence suggests that diets rich in fructose, in the form of added sugar, may be linked to high blood pressure.
Small amounts of fructose (about 4-10 grams) are naturally found in many fruits and vegetables. In contrast, soft drink contains nearly 40 grams of high-fructose corn syrup, about half of which is fructose.
The researchers analyzed data from 4,528 adults who participated in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES 2003 to 2006). None of the participants had a history of high blood pressure. The survey asked questions about all types of fructose, not just soft drinks.
On average, adults consumed about 74 grams of fructose daily, which is equivalent to about 2.5 soft drinks. After adjusting for various risk factors for high blood pressure, such as alcohol and salt intake, the researchers found that people who consumed 74 grams or more of fructose daily were more likely to develop high blood pressure.
"These results suggest that high fructose intake, in the form of added sugar, independently associates with higher BP [blood pressure] levels among US adults without a history of hypertension," the researchers concluded in the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology.
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- Jalal DI, Smits G, Johnson RJ, et al. Increased Fructose Associates with Elevated Blood Pressure. J Am Soc Nephrol. 2010 Jul 1. View Abstract
- Natural Standard: The Authority on Integrative Medicine. www.naturalstandard.com
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