MELBOURNE: Higher levels of glucose in sweet carbonated beverages in Australia are responsible for high rates of heart disease and diabetes, a study published on Monday has found.
The study, published by the Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute in Melbourne, found that some popular sweet drinks in Australia had 22 percent more glucose than those in the United States.
The findings came as a coalition of Australia’s leading health authorities continued to lobby the government to introduce a tax on sugar-sweetened beverages.
Research conducted by the Obesity Policy Coalition found that a 20-percent tax on sugary drinks would save 1,600 lives every year and raise more than 200 million U.S. dollars.
Bronwyn Kingwell, a co-author of the study, said that the study should act as a warning for Australians who regularly consume sweet drinks.
“Given that glucose, but not fructose, rapidly elevates plasma glucose and insulin, regular consumption of Australian soft drinks has potential health implications regarding type 2 diabetes and its complications,” Kingwell told Australian media on Monday.
“Given the high rate of consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages and type 2 diabetes and heart disease, these new findings are of significant concern.”
Kingwell said that too much fructose could myriad well-known health problems but not as much was known about the risks of consuming glucose.
The Australian Health Survey found that 39 percent of men and 29 percent of women regularly drank sugar-sweetened beverages.
“Given the already high consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages in Australia and high rates of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease, these new findings are of significant concern and warrant further investigation as soon as possible,” Kingwell said.
