(April 20, 2010 - Insidermedicine)

A diet high in added sugar is associated with higher “bad” cholesterol and lower “good” cholesterol, according to research published in the  Journal of the American Medical Association.

Foods high in added sugar include:

•    Soft drinks and sugar-sweetened fruit drinks

•    Dairy desserts, including ice cream and sweetened yogurt

•    Candies, cakes, cookies, and pies

Researchers from Emory University in Atlanta divided over 6,000 American adults into one of five groups depending on what proportion of the total calories they consumed were derived from added sugar: less than 5%, 5 to less than 10%, 10 to less than 17.5%, 17.5 to less than 25%, or 25% or more. The investigators then compared cholesterol profiles among the five groups.

Levels of HDL or “good” cholesterol decreased and levels of triglycerides increased as the proportion of calories derived from added sugar increased. Among women, greater intake of added sugar was also associated with higher levels of LDL or “bad” cholesterol. Among those for whom more than 10% of calories were derived from added sugar, the likelihood of having low HDL cholesterol could be more than 3 times greater than for those whose intake of added sugar accounted for fewer than 5% of calories.

We spoke with Dr.  Miriam Vos, one of the investigators of this study, who offered some further insight.      

Today’s research highlights the need to watch the amount of added sugar in one’s diet.