Consumption of Sweet Beverages and Cancer Risk. A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Observational Studies.

The consumption of sweet beverages, including sugar-sweetened beverages (SSB), artificial-sweetened beverages (ASB) and fruit juices (FJ), is associated with the risk of different cardiometabolic diseases. It may also be linked to the development of certain types of tumors. We carried out a systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies aimed at examining the association between sweet beverage intake and cancer risk. Suitable articles published up to June 2020 were sourced through PubMed, Web of Science and SCOPUS databases. Overall, 64 studies were identified, of which 27 were selected for the meta-analysis. This was performed by analyzing the multivariable-adjusted OR, RR or HR of the highest sweet beverage intake categories compared to the lowest one. Random effects showed significant positive association between SSB intake and breast (RR: 1.14, 95% CI: 1.01-1.30) and prostate cancer risk (RR: 1.18, 95% CI: 1.10-1.27) and also between FJs and prostate cancer risk (RR: 1.03, 95% CI: 1.01-1.05). Although the statistically significant threshold was not reached, there tended to be positive associations for the following: SSBs and colorectal and pancreatic cancer risk; FJs and breast, colorectal and pancreatic cancer risk; and ASBs and pancreatic cancer risk. This study recommends limiting sweet beverage consumption. Furthermore, we propose to establish a homogeneous classification of beverages and investigate them separately, to better understand their role in carcinogenesis.

The Importance of Sweet Beverage Definitions When Targeting Health Policies-The Case of Switzerland.

Since high-sweet beverage intake is associated with health risks, defining what this term encompasses is relevant to the strategies confronting this problem. This study assessed both the sociodemographic factors associated with sweet beverage consumption in Switzerland and the amount consumed. According to the current definition in Switzerland (SB-CUR), sweet beverages include soft drinks, juices with added-sugar, and low-calorie sweet beverages. Using this definition and the representative menuCH survey (n = 2057; ages 18-75), the average daily sweet beverage intake was determined and compared with a new sweet beverage definition (SB-NEW), which included all beverages with free sugars and low-calorie sweeteners. A generalized linear model was used to investigate correlates of sweet beverage consumption. Sweet beverage consumption under the SB-CUR and SB-NEW definition was 240.6 g/day and 329.7 g/day, respectively, with 100% juice consumption accounting for 66% of the difference. Carbonated drinks (sodas), low-calorie sweet beverages, and 100% juices were the highest contributors, each around 60 g/day. SB-NEW intake was higher in individuals who were male, young adults (aged 18-29), from German-speaking regions, obese, or had a lower level of education. As sweet beverage consumption was much higher under the SB-NEW definition, this could have implications for health policies aimed at reducing sugar intake.

Consumption patterns of sweetened condensed milk in the diet of young Indonesian children and its potential nutritional health consequences.

This critical review is intended to analyse the existing studies on the consumption patterns of sweetened condensed milk in the diet of young Indonesian children and its potential nutritional health consequences. Considering its limited nutritional value and high sugar content, sweetened condensed milk (SCM) should not be administered to young children (1-3 years old) with the goal of promoting their growth and development. However, such false practice has been reported in mostly urban studies among the underprivileged population. Conclusive scientific evidence is also still lacking regarding the health risks of long-term SCM consumption by young Indonesian children at early ages, as no study has focused on this specific topic. Nevertheless, inadequate understanding of SCM, its consumption patterns, and its long-term effects on health among young Indonesian children have been implicated in public confusion on the topic. Ongoing disparities that exist between regulation, industrial practices, and product advertisement have led to poor understanding in communities, which, to a considerable extent, has contributed to difficulties in segregating data on the consumption of SCM and its related products. Analogous to sugar-sweetened beverages, limited SCM consumption can be recommended when appropriately implemented with active monitoring and evaluation of product advertisements and product labeling, enforcement of regulations, and provision of effective customer education.

Nutraceutical Potential of Diet Drinks: A Critical Review on Components, Health Effects, and Consumer Safety.

Background: The purpose of this review paper was to explore the components and their respective health effects and safety aspects regarding the consumption of diet drinks (DDs).Methods: A wide variety of the relevant publications (published before 2018) were identified through searching electronic databases (ScienceDirect, PubMed, SciELO, Google Scholar, Springer Link, and ResearchGate) on the basis of different keywords such as diet drink, market status, consumption pattern, composition, health effects, and regulations related to DDs. After the search of suitable literature, 139 papers were screened and reviewed.Results: Numerous brands of DDs have been introduced in the market along with a wide variety of modifications in order to attract the consumers of all age groups along with their respective professions. The major components of DDs are caffeine, taurine, ginseng, guarana, sodium, potassium, and sweeteners that contribute to the good taste, stimulating effect, increased performance and cognitive function, and reduced stress. However, ingestion of DDs over a prolonged course of time can pose multiple deleterious effects, i.e., intoxication, affective disorder, hypertension, reproductive toxicity, and neurological disorders. Consequently, different regulatory bodies of respective countries have formulated and enforced rules and regulations regarding the composition, consumption, labeling, distribution, and sales of DDs.Conclusions: An awareness regarding the components, consumption, and health effects is greatly required in the present era, and authors have tried to fill this gap.Key teaching pointsRise in socio-economic status, health awareness and change in dietary lifestyle are the major factors that fuel the demand of diet drinks; which has been witnessed by a drastic increase in the consumption pattern of the diet drinks among young to middle-age adults since last decade.A wide variety of the ingredients are used in the preparation of diet drinks including caffeine, ginseng (Panax ginseng), guarana (Paullinia cupana), taurine, artificial sweeteners, B Vitamins, sodium, potassium etc.Diet drinks are generally served cold and contain high levels of caffeine and other artificial sweeteners; which based on dosage, have been known to be beneficial as well as harmful.These ingredients possess numerous health benefits including anti-hypertensive, anti-oxidant, anti-cancer properties, improved metabolic functions, stress reduction and enhanced endurance, exercise and performance and increased cognitive function.A wide range of the adverse health effects such as nervousness, sleeplessness, behavioral changes, decreased appetite, heart palpitations, nausea, vomiting, dehydration etc. is being possessed by diet drinks upon the ingestion of these drinks over a prolonged course of time.Regulatory bodies should determine the safe limits of all ingredients for different age groups to get maximum health benefits.

Changes in Consumption of Sugary Beverages and Artificially Sweetened Beverages and Subsequent Risk of Type 2 Diabetes: Results From Three Large Prospective U.S. Cohorts of Women and Men.

OBJECTIVE: We evaluated the associations of long-term changes in consumption of sugary beverages (including sugar-sweetened beverages and 100% fruit juices) and artificially sweetened beverages (ASBs) with subsequent risk of type 2 diabetes. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: We followed up 76,531 women in the Nurses' Health Study (1986-2012), 81,597 women in the Nurses' Health Study II (1991-2013), and 34,224 men in the Health Professionals' Follow-up Study (1986-2012). Changes in beverage consumption (in 8-ounce servings/day) were calculated from food frequency questionnaires administered every 4 years. Multivariable Cox proportional regression models were used to calculate hazard ratios for diabetes associated with changes in beverage consumption. Results of the three cohorts were pooled using an inverse variance-weighted, fixed-effect meta-analysis. RESULTS: During 2,783,210 person-years of follow-up, we documented 11,906 incident cases of type 2 diabetes. After adjustment for BMI and initial and changes in diet and lifestyle covariates, increasing total sugary beverage intake (including both sugar-sweetened beverages and 100% fruit juices) by >0.50 serving/day over a 4-year period was associated with a 16% (95% CI 1%, 34%) higher diabetes risk in the subsequent 4 years. Increasing ASB consumption by >0.50 serving/day was associated with 18% (2%, 36%) higher diabetes risk. Replacing one daily serving of sugary beverage with water, coffee, or tea, but not ASB, was associated with a 2-10% lower diabetes risk. CONCLUSIONS: Increasing consumption of sugary beverages or ASBs was associated with a higher risk of type 2 diabetes, albeit the latter association may be affected by reverse causation and surveillance bias.

Cross-sectional study protocol for the Arabic Healthy Weight Project promoting active living and healthy eating among Arabic-speaking communities in South Western Sydney.

INTRODUCTION: The South Western Sydney Local Health District (SWSLHD) is home to nearly 75 000 Arabic-speaking people. Of these, nearly three quarters are overweight or obese and suffer from a range of chronic diseases. To address this, the Health Promotion Service of SWSLHD will conduct a community-based overweight and obesity prevention intervention (Arabic Healthy Weight Project, 2018-2021) with Arabic community members aged between 18 and 50 years. The intervention's main activities will include a comprehensive social marketing campaign and an 'Eat-Move-Live Healthy' programme. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: The project will be evaluated using a pre-postintervention study design to measure changes in practices in relation to physical activity, consumption of vegetables and intake of sugar-sweetened beverages. The evaluation will apply mixed data collection methods. The quantitative data will be collected using a face-to-face survey of 1540 participants from two independent samples (pre: 770 and post: 770). Descriptive and inferential statistical tests will be used to analyse the quantitative data. The qualitative component will use focus group discussions and interviews to evaluate the formative, process and follow-up phases of data collection. A combination of deductive and inductive methods of data analysis will be conducted using NVivo software. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: The protocol has been approved by the Human Research Ethics Committee of SWSLHD (HREC/16/LPOOL/303). Findings will be published in peer-reviewed journals.