Consumption of sugar-sweetened and artificially sweetened beverages and prevalence of hypertension in adults: a population- based study

Systemic Arterial Hypertension is a multifactorial clinical condition associated with severe outcomes such as stroke and death. One of the main modifiable risk factor for hypertension is an unhealthy diet, often characterized by the consumption of ultraprocessed foods such as sweetened beverages. We aimed to investigate the relationship between the consumption of sweetened beverages, both sugar-sweetened and artificially sweetened, and the prevalence of hypertension in adults. A cross-sectional, household, population-based study with 1,162 adults from two Brazilian cities were carried out. The consumption of food groups and sweetened beverages was obtained by food frequency questionnaire and other data were self-reported. Weight, height, and waist circumference were measured. The association between sweetened beverages consumption and hypertension was analyzed using Poisson regression models, expressed as Prevalence Ratio. The prevalence of hypertension was 16.7%, with no significant difference between genders. The prevalence of consumption of sweetened beverages was 70.3% in men and 54.6% in women, being significantly higher in men. Women who consumed sugar-sweetened and artificially sweetened beverages 6 to 7 days per week had 92% higher prevalence of hypertension compared to those who did not consume or consumed at a lower frequency. Furthermore, women who consumed artificially sweetened beverages at least 1 time per week had 3.36 times higher prevalence of hypertension. The habitual consumption of sweetened beverages may be an important risk factor for hypertension, especially the consumption of diet beverages, which are often marketed as healthier than sugar-sweetened beverages.

La Hipertensión Arterial Sistémica es una condición clínica multifactorial asociada a resultados graves como el ictus y la muerte. Uno de los principales factores de riesgo modificables de la hipertensión es una dieta poco saludable, a menudo caracterizada por el consumo de alimentos ultraprocesados como las bebidas endulzadas. Nuestro objetivo fue investigar la relación entre el consumo de bebidas endulzadas, tanto azucaradas como edulcoradas artificialmente, y la prevalencia de hipertensión en adultos. Se realizó un estudio transversal, domiciliario y poblacional con 1,162 adultos de dos ciudades brasileñas. El consumo de grupos de alimentos y bebidas endulzadas se obtuvo mediante cuestionario de frecuencia de alimentos y los demás datos fueron autoinformados. Se midieron el peso, la talla y el perímetro de la cintura. La asociación entre el consumo de bebidas endulzadas y la hipertensión se analizó mediante modelos de regresión de Poisson, expresados como Ratio de Prevalencia. La prevalencia de hipertensión fue del 16,7%, sin diferencias significativas entre géneros. La prevalencia de consumo de bebidas endulzadas fue del 70,3% en los hombres y del 54,6% en las mujeres, siendo significativamente mayor en los hombres. Las mujeres que consumían bebidas azucaradas y edulcoradas artificialmente entre 6 y 7 días a la semana tenían 92% mayor prevalencia de hipertensión que las que no consumían o consumían con una frecuencia menor. Además, las mujeres que consumían bebidas edulcoradas al menos 1 vez por semana tenían una prevalencia de hipertensión 3,36 veces mayor. Así pues, el consumo habitual de bebidas endulzadas puede ser un importante factor de riesgo de hipertensión, especialmente el consumo de bebidas dietéticas, que a menudo se comercializan como más saludables que las bebidas azucaradas.

Association between Consumption of Ultra-Processed Food and Body Composition of Adults in a Capital City of a Brazilian Region.

The present study investigates the relationship between the consumption of ultra-processed foods (UPF) and anthropometric indices of body composition in adults and seniors living in Teresina, the state capital of an area in northeastern Brazil. The article seeks to address two questions: Is UPF consumption linked to worsening body composition in different age groups? Do anthropometric indicators of body composition change with the increasing consumption of UPF? The study is a cross-sectional, household, population study, carried out with 490 adults and seniors. The food consumption was obtained with a 24 h food recall, and the foods were classified using NOVA. Anthropometric indicators evaluated were waist-to-height ratio, triceps skinfold thickness, arm circumference, corrected arm muscle area, subscapular skinfold thickness, and calf circumference. The association between energy contribution of UPF with anthropometric indicators was verified with a simple and multiple linear regression analysis. Individuals aged 20 to 35 years showed a significant association between UPF consumption and skinfold thickness (ß: 0.04; CI: 0.03/0.09), demonstrating an increase in this subcutaneous body fat marker with higher UPF consumption. Moreover, in participants aged 36 to 59 years, an inverse correlation between UPF intake and muscle mass markers, arm circumference (ß: -0.02; confidence interval: -0.03/-0.01), and corrected arm muscle area (ß: -0.07; confidence interval: -0.12/-0.02) were observed. Such results suggest there is decreased muscle mass with increasing UPF consumption. This is the first study that verified an association between UPF consumption and low-cost body composition indicators in different age groups.

Relationship between lifestyle and sociodemographic determinants and eating patterns among adults and the elderly: A population-based study

ABSTRACT Objective: To identify dietary patterns in an adult population and to verify the factors associated with them. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional population-based household study with 1,574 individuals aged >20 years, of both sexes, living in Teresina and Picos, Piauí, Brazil. Sociodemographic, lifestyle and food consumption data were collected. Dietary patterns were obtained using principal component analysis. Results: There was a positive and significant association with the healthy eating pattern in women, elderly people, individuals with secondary and higher education and smokers. The white-meat pattern was positively associated with people without a partner and non-white skin, as well as with women, elderly people and smokers, and inversely with individuals with longer screen time and individuals with high school and college education. The unhealthy pattern was positively associated with individuals with excessive screen time and individuals with secondary and higher education, and inversely associated with individuals who were insufficiently active. Conclusion: Women, the elderly, individuals with a partner, non-smokers and active people have a healthier diet. However, men, smokers, with longer screen time and insufficiently active had a more inadequate diet, while the level of education showed contrasting results.

RESUMEN Objetivo: Identificar patrones dietéticos en una población de adultos y adultos mayoresy verificar los factores asociados a ellos. Métodos: Estudio transversal poblacional y domiciliario realizado en 1574 personas mayores de 20 años, de ambos sexos, residentes en Teresina y Picos, Piauí, Brasil. Se recogieron datos sociodemográficos, de estilo de vida y de consumo de alimentos. Los patrones dietéticos se obtuvieron mediante análisis de componentes principales. Resultados: Hubo asociación positiva y significativa con el patrón de alimentación saludable en mujeres, adultos mayores, individuos con educación secundaria y superior y fumadores. El patrón de carnes blancas se asoció positivamente con personas sin pareja y piel no blanca, así como con mujeres, personas mayores y fumadores, e inversamente con personas con mayor tiempo de pantalla y personas con educación secundaria y universitaria. El patrón insalubre se asoció positivamente con individuos con tiempo de pantalla excesivo y con individuos con educación secundaria y superior, y se asoció inversamente con individuos que eran insuficientemente activos. Conclusión: Las mujeres, los adultos mayores, las personas en pareja, los no fumadores y las personas activas tienen una dieta más saludable. Sin embargo, los hombres, fumadores, con mayor tiempo de pantalla e insuficientemente activos tenían una dieta más inadecuada, mientras que el nivel de educación mostró resultados contrastantes.