A new study published in the American Heart Association’s flagship journal Circulation found that consuming sugar-sweetened beverages and fruit juice from childhood through adulthood may increase the risk of developing high blood pressure later in life. The research, which followed more than 25,000 participants for up to 25 years, underscores the lasting impact of early dietary habits on cardiovascular health.
“Dietary habits in early life can have lasting health consequences,” said senior study author Vasanti Malik, Sc.D., M.Sc., an associate professor at the University of Toronto and adjunct faculty at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. “High blood pressure is also emerging earlier in life, with growing rates being seen in younger adults, in children and adolescents, which highlights the importance of early detection and prevention.”
Participants who drank two or more servings of sugar-sweetened beverages per day had a 52% higher risk of developing high blood pressure compared to those who consumed less than three servings a week. Among sugary drink subtypes, each daily serving of soda was associated with a 23% higher risk, and sports drinks with a 36% higher risk. Fruit juice also posed risks: those who drank 1.5 or more servings per day had a 35% higher risk, with each daily serving of orange juice linked to a 20% higher risk.
The analysis, based on data from the Growing Up Today Study, included participants aged 9 to 16 at baseline. Researchers used food frequency questionnaires to assess intake and tracked self-reported high blood pressure diagnoses. Importantly, the link between these beverages and high blood pressure persisted even after adjusting for overall diet quality, physical activity, and other factors.
Substitution analyses revealed that replacing a daily serving of sugary beverage with whole fruit could lower the risk of high blood pressure by 22%, while replacing fruit juice with whole fruit reduced risk by 19%. Substituting sugary drinks with milk or water was associated with up to a 13% lower risk.
“Sugar-sweetened beverages, such as soda and sports drinks, which are often marketed as somewhat healthy, should be limited,” Malik said. “Fruit juice intake may be harmless at low levels yet harmful at higher intake levels. They should always be 100% fruit juice, and even so, consumed only in moderation. Whole fruit should be emphasized over sugary beverages.”
The findings align with the American Heart Association’s 2026 Dietary Guidance to Improve Cardiovascular Health, which recommends minimizing added sugars. Dr. Amit Khera, a volunteer expert with the American Heart Association, noted that the study challenges misconceptions about fruit juice being beneficial. “There has been a misconception about fructose in general being harmful for cardiovascular health regardless of the source, and that fruit juices are beneficial for health. This study demonstrates that neither seems to be correct,” said Khera, director of preventive cardiology at UT Southwestern Medical Center.
He added that non-Hispanic Black and Hispanic populations, who have the highest sugary drink intake, may be particularly affected. The American Heart Association advocates for policies to reduce sugary drink consumption, including taxes, improved school nutrition, and better diet quality in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).
The study’s limitations include reliance on self-reported data and a predominantly white participant pool, which may affect generalizability. Nonetheless, the results underscore the importance of establishing healthy beverage habits early in life to prevent future cardiovascular disease.
