Prospective associations between beverage intake during the midlife and subclinical carotid atherosclerosis: The Study of Women’s Health Across the Nation

Abstract

Background The potential impacts of beverage intake during the midlife on future subclinical atherosclerosis among women are unclear. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prospective associations between the intakes of eight beverage groups and subclinical carotid atherosclerosis in midlife women. Methods Data came from the Study of Women’s Health Across the Nation, a multicenter, multiethnic, and prospective cohort study. A total of 1,235 midlife women had measures of subclinical carotid atherosclerosis and repeatedly beverage intake data collected using a validated food frequency questionnaire. Beverages were aggregated into eight groups, including coffee, tea, sugar-sweetened beverages, artificially sweetened beverages, fruit juices, whole milk, milk with lower fat content, and alcoholic beverages. The associations of beverage intake with common carotid artery intima-media thickness (CCA-IMT) and adventitial diameter (CCA-AD) were estimated using linear models; the associations with carotid plaque were estimated using log-binomial models. Results Coffee intake was associated with CCA-IMT in an inverted J-shaped pattern. After adjusting for covariates, women with >0 to <1 cup/day and 1 to <2 cups/day of coffee intake had a 0.031 mm (95% CI: 0.012, 0.051) and a 0.027 mm (95% CI: 0.005, 0.049) larger CCA-IMT, respectively, than coffee non-drinkers. Women who consumed ≥2 cups/day of coffee did not have significantly different CCA-IMT than non-drinkers. There was an inverse linear association between moderate alcoholic beverages intake and CCA-IMT ( P -trend = 0.014). Whole milk intake had inverted U-shaped associations with CCA-IMT and carotid plaque. No significant associations were found between other beverage groups and subclinical atherosclerosis. Conclusions In midlife women, occasional coffee intake may be associated with more subclinical atherosclerosis while moderate alcoholic beverages intake may be associated with less subclinical atherosclerosis. Future work should focus on the determination of the optimal beverage intake profile for maximum cardiovascular benefits in midlife women.

Association between Sugar Intake and Intima Media Thickness as a Marker for Atherosclerosis: A Cross-Sectional Study in the Malmö Diet and Cancer Study (Sweden)

“…Although sucrose, fructose and starch intakes have been found to have atherogenic effects in animal models [ 34 , 35 , 36 ], our study is one of the few to have investigated the association between sugar consumption and IMT in humans and the first to have explored added sugar intake in particular. Our findings are in line with a previous study that did not find any significant prospective association between SSB intake and IMTcca in women [ 12 ]. Other measurements of subclinical coronary artery disease have also been explored.…”

“…11 Hypertension: SBP ≥ 130 mmHg or DBP ≥ 85 mmHg or treatment. 12 Season: season when dietary data collection took place. For both men and women, the highest IMTcca mean values seemed to be found amongst the group consuming more than 20 %E from added sugar (0.791 mm in men and 0.738 mm in women) (Table 2) compared to those with an added sugar intake below or equal to 20 %E (0.757 mm for men and 0.719 mm for women).…”

“…Other measurements of subclinical coronary artery disease have also been explored. For instance, a cross-sectional study on healthy Korean adults found that high intakes of carbonated SSBs were significantly associated with a higher prevalence and degree of coronary artery calcium [ 11 ]; a result that neither ourselves nor Wang et al [ 12 ] were able to replicate when looking at the association between SSB consumption and IMT. Besides, a longitudinal study found that carbohydrate intake was positively associated with progression of atherosclerotic disease measured through IMT in postmenopausal women, particularly when the glycaemic index was high [ 37 ], while a Spanish study of asymptomatic adults found no significant association between glycaemic index or glycaemic load and IMT after a 1-year follow-up [ 38 ].…”

“…A cross-sectional study in asymptomatic adults found that high levels of carbonated SSB consumption were associated with a higher prevalence and degree of coronary artery calcium, a measurement for subclinical coronary heart disease [ 11 ]. However, a longitudinal study exploring the intake of different beverages found no association between SSB consumption and IMT [ 12 ]. Considering the limited support from previous studies, the aim of our study was to investigate the cross-sectional association between intake of different sugars and sugar-rich foods and beverages and IMT measured at the carotids in the MDCS.…”

Coffee consumption and the risk of cerebrovascular disease: a meta-analysis of prospective cohort studies

“…The mixed components and varied types of coffee may explain the discrepancy. A positive indication of coffee’s protective effects is that moderate coffee intake is associated with less carotid atherosclerosis in women who drink coffee occasionally [ 17 ]. For men, coffee intake is associated with reduced body weight [ 18 ].…”