Scientists from the University of Delaware have found that added sugar in the daily diet is strongly linked to higher blood pressure in older women.
Hypertension, or high blood pressure, is one of the most common chronic health conditions in older adults.
It significantly increases the risk of heart attack, stroke, kidney disease, and other serious health problems.
While genetics and ageing play a role, diet and lifestyle are among the most important factors influencing blood pressure levels.
In this study, researchers explored the relationship between various dietary habits and blood pressure in people aged 65 to 80 years.
A total of 128 participants took part in the research. The team examined how the intake of different food groups—including meats, vegetables, grains, fruits, dairy products, fats, and added sugars—was associated with participants’ blood pressure.
They also accounted for other important factors such as age, income level, body mass index, physical activity, total energy intake, and the use of blood pressure medication.
The results showed a strong association between added sugar consumption and higher blood pressure, particularly in older women.
The researchers estimated that reducing added sugar intake by just 2.3 teaspoons per day could lead to an average decrease of 8.4 mmHg in systolic blood pressure and 3.7 mmHg in diastolic blood pressure.
Systolic blood pressure refers to the pressure in the arteries when the heart contracts and pumps blood, while diastolic blood pressure refers to the pressure in the arteries when the heart relaxes between beats.
In contrast, the study also found that eating more whole fruit was linked to lower diastolic blood pressure in both men and women.
For every additional 0.71 cup of whole fruit consumed each day, diastolic blood pressure dropped by an average of 2.8 mmHg.
This suggests that replacing foods high in added sugars with natural, whole foods such as fruit may be a simple and effective way to support healthier blood pressure levels.
These findings are consistent with previous research showing that high intake of added sugars is linked to increased inflammation, weight gain, insulin resistance, fatty liver disease, and a greater risk of heart disease and stroke. Together, this growing body of evidence highlights the harmful impact that excessive added sugars can have on cardiovascular health.
The study supports current dietary guidelines, which recommend that older adults limit their intake of added sugars and increase their consumption of whole fruits and other nutrient-rich foods.
Making these dietary changes could play an important role in improving blood pressure control and reducing the risk of serious cardiovascular events.
The research was conducted by Sheau Ching Chai and colleagues and published in the journal Nutrients.
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