Is Soda Raising Blood Pressure in Middle-Aged Men?
Diets high in foods with large amounts of fructose sugar such as sweetened soft drinks increased blood pressure in men, according to a study presented September 23rd that also found that a drug for gout blocked the effect. Most sugar consumption in the U.S. comes from sweetened drinks and foods high in sugar or high fructose corn syrup. Fructose is the only common sugar known to increase uric acid levels.
Men in the study who ate a high-fructose diet had their blood pressure rise about 5 percent after two weeks, while those who also were given a gout treatment increased less than 1 percent. Eating great amounts of fructose without the treatment also raised the risk of developing metabolic syndrome, a risk factor associated with the development of heart disease and diabetes. The gout treatment lowered the body’s uric acid that is linked at elevated levels to high blood pressure, diabetes and heart disease. So, it’s possible that lowering uric acid levels could become a routine practice in the future, much like lowering cholesterol.
