Effects of short-term sugary beverage consumption on glucose control and cardiovascular disease risk factors: A randomized controlled parallel-arm trial

Objective To determine differences in glucose control and cardiovascular disease risk factors following three weeks of added soda, 100% fruit juice, or water in apparently healthy, college-aged adults. Participants Thirty-six adults (18 males; 18 females) between the ages of 18 and 30 years of age. Methods A 3-arm randomized controlled parallel-arm trial; at baseline and after three weeks consuming the assigned beverage, participants completed glucose control and cardiovascular disease risk factor assessments. Results There were no significant differences between beverage conditions for glucose control or cardiovascular disease risk factors (ps > 0.05). There were no significant changes in caloric intake or differences in caloric intake between conditions, p = 0.17. Conclusions In healthy, young adults, under free-living conditions, short-term consumption of two commercially packaged servings of SBs did not lead to significant glucose control or cardiovascular disease risk factor changes, indicating potential compensation and/or resilience to negative short-term effects.