The journal Circulation published a study on June 26, 2026, finding an association between high consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages and fruit juice from childhood into adulthood and a higher risk of hypertension. The study, titled "Consumption of Fructose-Containing Food and Beverage Sources in Childhood Through to Adulthood and Risk of Hypertension: A Prospective Cohort Study," analyzed data from 25,749 participants in the Growing Up Today Study (GUTS).

The research indicated that consuming two or more servings of sugar-sweetened beverages per day was linked to an elevated risk of hypertension. Similarly, consuming 1.5 or more servings of fruit juice per day showed an association with a greater hypertension risk. This association included both soda and sports drinks.

The study found no link between total fructose intake and an increased risk of hypertension. Whole fruit intake was not associated with hypertension risk. Approximately 6% of the participants reported a diagnosis of hypertension during the 25-year follow-up period.

The study suggested that replacing certain beverages with healthier options could lower the risk of hypertension. Replacing one daily serving of sugar-sweetened beverages with one daily serving of whole fruit was associated with a 22% lower risk of hypertension. Likewise, replacing one daily serving of sugar-sweetened beverages with one daily serving of milk was linked to a 13% lower risk, and replacing it with water was associated with a 9% lower risk. Replacing one serving of fruit juice per day with one serving of whole fruit per day was associated with a 19% lower risk of hypertension.

The Growing Up Today Study enrolled its first phase of participants, 16,875 children aged 9 to 14 years, in 1996. The second phase, with 10,918 children aged 9 to 16 years, began in 2004. The follow-up period for the study concluded in 2021. The average age of participants at enrollment was 12 years, and this population's average age at the end of the follow-up was 36 years. The study population was primarily non-Hispanic White, and data for dietary intake, body mass index, and hypertension diagnoses were self-reported.

Why It Matters

This study provides information regarding the long-term health effects of beverage consumption patterns established in childhood. Its findings identify specific types of beverages, sugar-sweetened drinks and fruit juices, that are associated with an increased risk of hypertension which affects a percentage of the population over an extended period. The research also suggests potential dietary changes that could be associated with a reduced risk of hypertension.