TY - JOUR

T1 - Association between sugar intake and intima media thickness as a marker for atherosclerosis

T2 - A cross-sectional study in the Malmö diet and cancer study (Sweden)

AU - González-Padilla, Esther

AU - Janzi, Suzanne

AU - Ramne, Stina

AU - Thuneland, Camilla

AU - Borné, Yan

AU - Sonestedt, Emily

N1 - Funding Information: Funding: This research was funded by the Swedish Research Council (2016-01501), the Heart and Lung Foundation (2016-0267, 2019-0555) and the Albert Påhlsson Foundation. Further support was provided by the Swedish Foundation for Strategic Research (IRC15-006). The APC was funded by Lund University’s APC Fund. Publisher Copyright: © 2021 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.

PY - 2021

Y1 - 2021

N2 - It has been suggested that sugar intake may play a role in the development of atherosclero-sis. However, studies on this matter are lacking. Intima media thickness (IMT) is a well-established measurement of subclinical atherosclerosis. This study aimed to investigate the cross-sectional association between sugar intake (i.e., added, free and total sugar and sugar-rich foods and beverages) and IMT. Our study comprised 5269 individuals (45–73 years, 40% men) of the Malmö Diet and Cancer Study, a population-based cohort conducted in Sweden with data collected from 1991 to 1994. Measurements of IMT were performed with B-mode ultrasound at the right common carotid artery (IMTcca) and the bifurcation of the carotids (IMTbif). Dietary intake was estimated using a combina-tion of a 7-day food record, diet questionnaire and interview. After adjusting for methodological, lifestyle and dietary confounders, no statistically significant associations were observed for any of the sugar intake variables and IMT. For example, added sugar intake presented no significant linear association with IMTcca or IMTbif (Ptrends: IMTcca 0.81 for men and 0.98 for women and IMTbif 0.20 for men and 0.40 for women). In conclusion, we found no clear association between sugar intake and IMT measurements in this study.

AB - It has been suggested that sugar intake may play a role in the development of atherosclero-sis. However, studies on this matter are lacking. Intima media thickness (IMT) is a well-established measurement of subclinical atherosclerosis. This study aimed to investigate the cross-sectional association between sugar intake (i.e., added, free and total sugar and sugar-rich foods and beverages) and IMT. Our study comprised 5269 individuals (45–73 years, 40% men) of the Malmö Diet and Cancer Study, a population-based cohort conducted in Sweden with data collected from 1991 to 1994. Measurements of IMT were performed with B-mode ultrasound at the right common carotid artery (IMTcca) and the bifurcation of the carotids (IMTbif). Dietary intake was estimated using a combina-tion of a 7-day food record, diet questionnaire and interview. After adjusting for methodological, lifestyle and dietary confounders, no statistically significant associations were observed for any of the sugar intake variables and IMT. For example, added sugar intake presented no significant linear association with IMTcca or IMTbif (Ptrends: IMTcca 0.81 for men and 0.98 for women and IMTbif 0.20 for men and 0.40 for women). In conclusion, we found no clear association between sugar intake and IMT measurements in this study.

KW - Added sugar

KW - Atherosclerosis

KW - Free sugar

KW - IMT

KW - Intima media thickness

KW - SSB

KW - Sugar intake

KW - Sugar-rich foods

KW - Sugar-sweetened beverages

KW - Total sugar

U2 - 10.3390/nu13051555

DO - 10.3390/nu13051555

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 34063058

AN - SCOPUS:85105222712

VL - 13

JO - Nutrients

JF - Nutrients

SN - 2072-6643

IS - 5

M1 - 1555

ER -