Drinks with artificial sweeteners increase the risk of atrial fibrillation by 20%

“Diet drinks” increase the risk of dangerous heart disease by 20%

Boarding2Now/Depositphotos

Drinking diet sodas with artificial sweeteners increases the risk of dangerous heart disease associated with irregular heartbeats by 20%.

Such conclusions were reached by a group of Chinese scientists, conducting research, published in the scientific journal Circulation: Arrhythmia and Electrophysiology, informs CNN.

Atrial fibrillation, or atrial fibrillation, is an irregular heartbeat that many people describe as a “fluttering” or “fluttering” of the heart in the chest.

Atrial fibrillation is the leading cause of stroke in the United States. It can also lead to blood clots, heart failure, and an increased risk of heart attack, dementia, and kidney disease.

During the study, scientists analyzed the data of almost 202 thousand people contained in the UK Biobank. The age of the participants is from 37 to 73 years old. They were observed for an average of 10 years.

The study showed that among consumers of artificially sweetened beverages, women were more likely to be younger, heavier, and with a higher prevalence of type 2 diabetes.

At the same time, younger men with greater weight and a higher prevalence of cardiovascular disease were more likely to drink sugary drinks.

During the study, scientists found that drinks with artificial sweeteners increased the risk of atrial fibrillation by 20%. While drinks with added sugar – by 10%.

At the same time, the consumption of unsweetened juices, in particular orange or vegetable juices, on the contrary, helped reduce the risk of the disease by 8%.

“We still need more studies of the drinks to confirm these findings and fully understand all the health implications related to heart disease and other conditions.

For now, water is the best choice. Based on this study, consumption of no- and low-calorie sweetened beverages should be limited or avoided.” Penny Chris-Etherton, a professor of nutritional sciences at the University of Pennsylvania, who was not involved in the study, noted.

We will remind, the World Health Organization reportedthat the sweetener aspartame may increase the risk of cancer.