Association between sugar intake and intima media thickness as a marker for atherosclerosis: A cross-sectional study in the Malmö diet and cancer study (Sweden)

Research output: Contribution to journalJournal articleResearchpeer-review

  • Esther González-Padilla
  • Suzanne Janzi
  • Ramne, Stina
  • Camilla Thuneland
  • Yan Borné
  • Emily Sonestedt

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.

Original languageEnglish
Article number1555
JournalNutrients
Volume13
Issue number5
ISSN2072-6643
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2021
Externally publishedYes

Bibliographical note

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.

    Research areas

  • Added sugar, Atherosclerosis, Free sugar, IMT, Intima media thickness, SSB, Sugar intake, Sugar-rich foods, Sugar-sweetened beverages, Total sugar

ID: 288801614