Linking Fructose to Hypertension

According to the CDC 1 in 3 U.S adults suffer from hypertension. A good article in the Press Enterprise on July 3^rd talked about how researchers have found a link to fructose and hypertension. New research is showing that the high amounts of sugar added to foods is causing this increase. The study links fructose (fructose is 50% of the ingredient in table sugar and 55% in high fructose corn syrup) to HP in lab rats. They also claim that in comparison to humans the link is “elusive." The researchers from University of Colorado Denver were looking for a link in HP and added sugar intake by comparing the diets of those who ate healthy versus those who ate fructose from added sugars. The unhealthy group who consumed added fructose had an increase in systolic pressure (top number is the sytolic pressure which is when the heart is in the contracting phase).This was not the case with the individuals who ate from “healthier sources” such as fresh fruit. In addition, they found that the individuals with larger waistlines had higher blood pressure readings. Individuals who consumed more than 74 grams of fructose per day (from added sugar) were 77% more likely to have a blood pressure reading of 160/100 or greater (hypertensive). Reducing added sugar decreases your risk greatly. For example, an individual who consumes 2 ½ 20-ounces of bottled Coke can easily exceed the 74 grams of fructose a day. Cutting your intake of Coke by half can reduce your risk.

Hypertension increases the risk of heart disease, stroke, kidney failure and other possible conditions. According to the World Health Organization, 7.1 million deaths occur each year related to hypertension. More information regarding this study can be found by visiting the following link http://www.asn-online.org/publications/current-articles.aspx.