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Association Between Soft Drink Consumption and Mortality in 10 European Countries

Mullee, Amy ; Romaguera, Dora ; Pearson-Stuttard, Jonathan ; Ardanaz, Eva LU ; Ramne, Stina LU orcid ; Sonestedt, Emily LU orcid and Murphy, Neil (2019) In JAMA Internal Medicine 179(11). p.1479-1490
Abstract

Importance: Soft drinks are frequently consumed, but whether this consumption is associated with mortality risk is unknown and has been understudied in European populations to date.

Objective: To examine the association between total, sugar-sweetened, and artificially sweetened soft drink consumption and subsequent total and cause-specific mortality.

Design, Setting, and Participants: This population-based cohort study involved participants (n = 451 743 of the full cohort) in the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC), an ongoing, large multinational cohort of people from 10 European countries (Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden, and the United... (More)

Importance: Soft drinks are frequently consumed, but whether this consumption is associated with mortality risk is unknown and has been understudied in European populations to date.

Objective: To examine the association between total, sugar-sweetened, and artificially sweetened soft drink consumption and subsequent total and cause-specific mortality.

Design, Setting, and Participants: This population-based cohort study involved participants (n = 451 743 of the full cohort) in the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC), an ongoing, large multinational cohort of people from 10 European countries (Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden, and the United Kingdom), with participants recruited between January 1, 1992, and December 31, 2000. Excluded participants were those who reported cancer, heart disease, stroke, or diabetes at baseline; those with implausible dietary intake data; and those with missing soft drink consumption or follow-up information. Data analyses were performed from February 1, 2018, to October 1, 2018.

Exposure: Consumption of total, sugar-sweetened, and artificially sweetened soft drinks.

Main Outcomes and Measures: Total mortality and cause-specific mortality. Hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% CIs were estimated using multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression models adjusted for other mortality risk factors.

Results: In total, 521 330 individuals were enrolled. Of this total, 451 743 (86.7%) were included in the study, with a mean (SD) age of 50.8 (9.8) years and with 321 081 women (71.1%). During a mean (range) follow-up of 16.4 (11.1 in Greece to 19.2 in France) years, 41 693 deaths occurred. Higher all-cause mortality was found among participants who consumed 2 or more glasses per day (vs consumers of <1 glass per month) of total soft drinks (hazard ratio [HR], 1.17; 95% CI, 1.11-1.22; P < .001), sugar-sweetened soft drinks (HR, 1.08; 95% CI, 1.01-1.16; P = .004), and artificially sweetened soft drinks (HR, 1.26; 95% CI, 1.16-1.35; P < .001). Positive associations were also observed between artificially sweetened soft drinks and deaths from circulatory diseases (≥2 glasses per day vs <1 glass per month; HR, 1.52; 95% CI, 1.30-1.78; P < .001) and between sugar-sweetened soft drinks and deaths from digestive diseases (≥1 glass per day vs <1 glass per month; HR, 1.59; 95% CI, 1.24-2.05; P < .001).

Conclusions and Relevance: This study found that consumption of total, sugar-sweetened, and artificially sweetened soft drinks was positively associated with all-cause deaths in this large European cohort; the results are supportive of public health campaigns aimed at limiting the consumption of soft drinks.

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organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
in
JAMA Internal Medicine
volume
179
issue
11
pages
1479 - 1490
publisher
American Medical Association
external identifiers
  • scopus:85071732581
  • pmid:31479109
ISSN
2168-6114
DOI
10.1001/jamainternmed.2019.2478
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
8e302439-4cd6-4192-a387-235aa95eeded
date added to LUP
2019-09-09 17:12:33
date last changed
2024-04-30 20:10:17
@article{8e302439-4cd6-4192-a387-235aa95eeded,
  abstract     = {{<p>Importance: Soft drinks are frequently consumed, but whether this consumption is associated with mortality risk is unknown and has been understudied in European populations to date.</p><p>Objective: To examine the association between total, sugar-sweetened, and artificially sweetened soft drink consumption and subsequent total and cause-specific mortality.</p><p>Design, Setting, and Participants: This population-based cohort study involved participants (n = 451 743 of the full cohort) in the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC), an ongoing, large multinational cohort of people from 10 European countries (Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden, and the United Kingdom), with participants recruited between January 1, 1992, and December 31, 2000. Excluded participants were those who reported cancer, heart disease, stroke, or diabetes at baseline; those with implausible dietary intake data; and those with missing soft drink consumption or follow-up information. Data analyses were performed from February 1, 2018, to October 1, 2018.</p><p>Exposure: Consumption of total, sugar-sweetened, and artificially sweetened soft drinks.</p><p>Main Outcomes and Measures: Total mortality and cause-specific mortality. Hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% CIs were estimated using multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression models adjusted for other mortality risk factors.</p><p>Results: In total, 521 330 individuals were enrolled. Of this total, 451 743 (86.7%) were included in the study, with a mean (SD) age of 50.8 (9.8) years and with 321 081 women (71.1%). During a mean (range) follow-up of 16.4 (11.1 in Greece to 19.2 in France) years, 41 693 deaths occurred. Higher all-cause mortality was found among participants who consumed 2 or more glasses per day (vs consumers of &lt;1 glass per month) of total soft drinks (hazard ratio [HR], 1.17; 95% CI, 1.11-1.22; P &lt; .001), sugar-sweetened soft drinks (HR, 1.08; 95% CI, 1.01-1.16; P = .004), and artificially sweetened soft drinks (HR, 1.26; 95% CI, 1.16-1.35; P &lt; .001). Positive associations were also observed between artificially sweetened soft drinks and deaths from circulatory diseases (≥2 glasses per day vs &lt;1 glass per month; HR, 1.52; 95% CI, 1.30-1.78; P &lt; .001) and between sugar-sweetened soft drinks and deaths from digestive diseases (≥1 glass per day vs &lt;1 glass per month; HR, 1.59; 95% CI, 1.24-2.05; P &lt; .001).</p><p>Conclusions and Relevance: This study found that consumption of total, sugar-sweetened, and artificially sweetened soft drinks was positively associated with all-cause deaths in this large European cohort; the results are supportive of public health campaigns aimed at limiting the consumption of soft drinks.</p>}},
  author       = {{Mullee, Amy and Romaguera, Dora and Pearson-Stuttard, Jonathan and Ardanaz, Eva and Ramne, Stina and Sonestedt, Emily and Murphy, Neil}},
  issn         = {{2168-6114}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{09}},
  number       = {{11}},
  pages        = {{1479--1490}},
  publisher    = {{American Medical Association}},
  series       = {{JAMA Internal Medicine}},
  title        = {{Association Between Soft Drink Consumption and Mortality in 10 European Countries}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1001/jamainternmed.2019.2478}},
  doi          = {{10.1001/jamainternmed.2019.2478}},
  volume       = {{179}},
  year         = {{2019}},
}