Cardiovascular responses to the ingestion of sugary drinks using a randomised cross-over study design: does glucose attenuate the blood pressure-elevating effect of fructose?

Overconsumption of sugar-sweetened beverages has been implicated in the pathogenesis of CVD. The objective of the present study was to elucidate acute haemodynamic and microcirculatory responses to the ingestion of sugary drinks made from sucrose, glucose or fructose at concentrations similar to those often found in commercial soft drinks. In a randomised cross-over study design, twelve young healthy human subjects (seven men) ingested 500ml tap water in which was dissolved 60g of either sucrose, glucose or fructose, or an amount of fructose equivalent to that present in sucrose (i.e. 30g fructose). Continuous cardiovascular monitoring was performed for 30min before and at 60min after ingestion of sugary drinks, and measurements included beat-to-beat blood pressure (BP) and impedance cardiography. Additionally, microvascular endothelial function testing was performed after iontophoresis of acetylcholine and sodium nitroprusside using laser Doppler flowmetry. Ingestion of fructose (60 or 30g) increased diastolic and mean BP to a greater extent than the ingestion of 60g of either glucose or sucrose (P<0·05). Ingestion of sucrose and glucose increased cardiac output (CO; P<0·05), index of contractility (P<0·05) and stroke volume (P<0·05), but reduced total peripheral resistance (TPR; P