Abstract
Soda consumption in adolescents has been linked to poorer metabolic outcomes. We tested whether replacing soda with reduced fat milk would improve features of atherogenic dyslipidemia and other cardiometabolic risk factors. Thirty overweight and obese adolescent boys who were habitual consumers of sugar-sweetened beverages were randomly assigned to consume 24 oz/day of sugar-sweetened soda or an energy equivalent of reduced fat (2%) milk for 3 weeks with crossover to the alternate beverage after a ≥ 2 weeks washout. Plasma lipids and lipoproteins and other laboratory measures were assessed after each beverage period. Lipid and lipoprotein measurements, C-reactive protein, and serum transaminases did not differ significantly between the soda and milk phases of the study. Systolic blood pressure z-score and uric acid concentration were significantly lower after consuming milk compared to soda. Milk consumption also significantly decreased plasma glucosyl ceramide (d18:1/C16:0) and lactosylceramides (d18:1/C16:0 and d18:1/C18:0). While no effects of replacing soda with milk on lipid and lipoprotein measurements were observed in these normolipidemic weight-stable adolescent boys, decreases in systolic blood pressure, uric acid, and glycosphingolipids suggest that an overall favorable effect on cardiometabolic risk can be achieved following a short-term dietary intervention.
Highlights
Sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) are a major source of energy intake among adolescents, averaging approximately 9–10% of total daily kilocalories for children 12–19 years [1]
The increase in SSB consumption in the United States has paralleled the rise in rates of obesity [2] and related co-morbidities, including atherogenic dyslipidemia, hypertension, and insulin resistance in both adults [3,4] and children [5,6], suggesting that SSBs are detrimental to cardiometabolic health
Another study in adults randomly assigned to six different beverage interventions providing varying sources and amounts of sugars showed that daily consumption of SSB with 80 g sucrose or 80 g fructose for 3 weeks resulted in no significant differences in traditional lipid parameters, including plasma total, low-density lipoprotein (LDL), and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, and triglycerides [9], but there was a decrease in LDL peak particle size due to a shift in the distribution of LDL from larger to smaller species that are associated to a greater extent with cardiovascular disease risk [11]
Summary
Sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) are a major source of energy intake among adolescents, averaging approximately 9–10% of total daily kilocalories for children 12–19 years [1]. Another study in adults randomly assigned to six different beverage interventions providing varying sources and amounts of sugars (fructose, glucose, sucrose) showed that daily consumption of SSB with 80 g sucrose or 80 g fructose for 3 weeks resulted in no significant differences in traditional lipid parameters, including plasma total, low-density lipoprotein (LDL), and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, and triglycerides [9], but there was a decrease in LDL peak particle size due to a shift in the distribution of LDL from larger to smaller species that are associated to a greater extent with cardiovascular disease risk [11]. Other cardiometabolic parameters, including blood pressure, fat volume, and inflammatory markers, have been shown to improve with replacement of SSBs with milk and other drinks, such as water and non-caloric diet drinks in adults [9,10] These data are consistent with findings from the Harvard Pooling Project of Diet and Coronary Disease, which suggest a decrease in risk of coronary events when milk is substituted for SSBs [14]. Whether replacement of SSBs with milk improves markers of cardiometabolic risk in adolescents in a similar fashion
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
