Drinking seven or more sweetened drinks per day, including soda and fruit juice, could increase the risk of high blood pressure by 10 times, according to a new study.

The study, which was conducted by a research team at Samsung Seoul Hospital, followed 5,853 people aged 19 or older who had previously participated in the survey “Food Security Status in the Korean Population” between 2012 and 2013. 

The team analyzed the possible risk of high blood pressure for each individual in accordance with their sweetened beverage intake.

They divided the surveyed participants into four groups and monitored their overall high blood pressure risks.

They observed the biggest risk of high blood pressure (48 percent) among the group of people who drank seven or more sweetened beverages per day for a week. The group that refrained from sweetened drinks for a week had a risk of 14 percent. 

For a more accurate result, the researchers also measured the rate after adjusting for multiple variables including gender, age, diabetes, hypertension and the intake of other sugary foods, such as chocolate and candy. For adults who drank at least seven sugary beverages per day for a week, the result showed a nearly 11 times increase in the risk of high blood pressure compared to the group with no intake of such beverages.

Lead researcher Yoo Jun-hyun, professor of Department of Family Medicine at Sungkyunkwan University in Seoul, said: “Our findings show a similar result from the previous studies that a high sugar intake could elevate blood pressure. Drinking seven or more sugary beverages is associated with a higher incidence of elevated blood pressure on individuals.”

The study was published in the Korean Journal of Family Practice.

By Bak Se-hwan (sh@heraldcorp.com)