American Beverage Association Responds to Study on Heart Disease Risk

WASHINGTON, March 12, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- In response to "Sweetened Beverage Consumption, Incident Coronary Heart Disease and Biomarkers of Risk in Men," a paper published today in Circulation, the journal of the American Heart Association, the American Beverage Association issued the following statement:

"Drinking sweetened beverages does not cause an increased risk of heart disease – not based on this study or any other study in the available science. The authors found an association between consuming sweetened beverages and cardiovascular risk, but this could have been the result of other lifestyle changes over the 22-year study period involving men 40 to 75 years of age."

Additional Background Information:

On the Study:

• The authors looked at a group of subjects comprised almost entirely of white men of European descent ages 40 to 75. In fact, the authors noted among the limitations they cited that their subjects may be dissimilar to those living in the general population.   Therefore, it is important to recognize that the study's conclusions cannot be extrapolated to the broader overall population. 
• In the paper, the authors also acknowledged that they were unable to control for all confounding factors, including stress, which is a risk factor for CHD as identified by the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute of the National Institutes of Health.
• In addition, the authors reported changes in some biomarkers of cardiovascular health.  While there were statistically significant changes in these biomarkers, this is not the same as increased cardiovascular disease.

On Heart Disease and Risk Factors:

• Heart disease is a complex problem with no single cause and no simple solution. 
• When it comes to risk for heart disease, there is nothing unique about the calories from added sugars, or sugar-sweetened beverages for that matter. According to the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute of the National Institutes of Health, the major risk factors for heart disease are:  high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol, diabetes, smoking, being overweight, being physically inactive, unhealthy diet and stress.
• While many risk factors are beyond our control, there are things we can do - including not smoking, maintaining an appropriate body weight and being physically active - to help mitigate risk for heart disease.
• If we truly want to reduce the incidence of heart disease, health professionals as well as other stakeholders must educate Americans about the risk factors and encourage people not to smoke (or not to start smoking) and maintain a healthy weight by balancing calories consumed – which includes eating a sensible, balanced diet - with calories burned by engaging in regular physical activity.

HEART DISEASE IN MEN STUDY/ADD ONE

• When it comes to calories, our industry is helping consumers by providing clear calorie labels which put calorie information right at their fingertips so they can make a choice that's right for them.  The beverage industry announced the Clear on Calories initiative in support of First Lady Michelle Obama's "Let's Move!" campaign.

The American Beverage Association is the trade association representing the broad spectrum of companies that manufacture and distribute non-alcoholic beverages in the United States.

SOURCE American Beverage Association