Sugar-sweetened beverage intake ups risk of AF

Consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) appears to induce atrial fibrillation (AF), while drinking pure fruit juice (PFJ) may help prevent the incidence of angina, suggests a recent study. 

The Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis revealed a genetically causal association between SSBs and AF (odds ratio [OR], 1.023, 95 percent confidence interval [CI], 1.007—1.038; p=0.0039), as well as a causal negative association between PFJ and angina (OR, 0.968, 95 percent CI, 0.943—0.993; p=0.0138). 

However, the same analysis showed no causal association between SSB or PFJ intake and risks of other cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), namely heart failure, acute myocardial infarction, hypertension, and coronary atherosclerosis. 

In this study, researchers used MR analytic modelling to examine genetically predicted causal associations between SSB or PFJ intake (obtained in a published genome-wide association study) and six common CVDs. 

The researchers also used the inverse variance weighted method, as well as other methods including weighted median method, MR Egger regression, Cochran’s Q test, MR pleiotropy residual, funnel plot, Bonferroni correction, and others for MR analysis. 

Finally, the strength of the findings was confirmed by calculating F values as a complementary test to set looser thresholds for exposing genetic instrumental variables. 

“This study suggests that there may be a potential causal relationship between SSB intake and AF and a causal negative association between PFJ intake and angina,” the researchers said.