Association of free sugar intake with blood pressure and obesity measures in Australian adults.

Abstract

This study examined the association of free sugar (FS) intake with obesity measures and blood pressure (BP) among a nationally representative sample of Australian adults. Data from adults (weighted n = 5136) who completed 2 × 24-h recalls and had complete data for BP, waist circumference (WC), waist-to-height ratio (WHtR), and body mass index (BMI) were analyzed. Associations between percentage energy of FS from all food sources (%EFStotal), beverages only (%EFSbeverages), and non-beverages sources only (%EFSnon-beverages) and obesity measures and BP were examined using linear and non-linear regressions. Logistic regression was used to calculate the odds ratios (OR) of being classified as overweight and/or obese, having increased cardiometabolic risks, and elevated BP per 5% point increase in %EFStotal, %EFSbeverages, and %EFSnon-beverages. All regression analyses were adjusted for known socio-economic and lifestyle confounders. %EFSbeverage was positively associated with BMI, WC, and WHtR (all p < 0.05), while %EFSnon-beverage was inversely associated with these outcomes. Increases in odds of having an undesirable WC/WHtR were found with increasing %EFSbeverages (OR per 5% point increase in %EFSbeverages: 1.19 for WC; 1.23 for WHtR, both p < 0.001). %EFStotal and %EFSnon-beverages were weakly and negatively associated with diastolic BP. A 5% point increase in %EFStotal and %EFSnon-beverage was associated with a 10-25% reduction in odds of having elevated BP. Our results suggested that only a higher FS intake from beverages may be associated with obesity, and higher FS intake was associated with reduced odds of having elevated BP.