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Relation of change or substitution of low-and no-calorie sweetened beverages with cardiometabolic outcomes: A systematic review and meta-analysis of prospective cohort studies

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posted on 2022-07-29, 18:43 authored by Jennifer J. Lee, Tauseef A. Khan, Nema McGlynn, Vasanti S. Malik, James O. Hill, Lawrence A. Leiter, Per Bendix Jeppesen, Dario Rahelić, Hana Kahleová, Jordi Salas-Salvadó, Cyril W. C. Kendall, John L. Sievenpiper

Background: Adverse associations of low-and no-calorie sweetened beverages (LNCSBs) with cardiometabolic outcomes in observational studies may be explained by reverse causality and residual confounding. Purpose: To address these limitations we used change analyses of repeated measures of intake and substitution analyses to synthesize the association of LNCSBs with cardiometabolic outcomes. Study Selection: MEDLINE, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Library were searched up to 10 June 2021 for prospective cohort studies ≥1-year follow-up duration in adults. Outcomes included changes in clinical measures of adiposity, risk of overweight/obesity, metabolic syndrome, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and total mortality. Data Extraction: Two independent reviewers extracted data, assessed study quality, and certainty of evidence using GRADE. Data was pooled using random-effects model and expressed as mean difference (MD) or risk ratio (RR) and 95% CI. Data Synthesis: Fourteen cohorts (416,830 participants) met the eligibility criteria. Change in LNCSB intake was associated with lower weight (5 cohorts, 136,206 participants; MD, -0.008 [95% CI: -0.014, -0.002] kg/y). Substitution of LNCSBs for sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) was associated with lower weight (3 cohorts, 165,579 participants; MD, -0.12 [95% CI: -0.14, -0.01] kg/y) and lower incidence of obesity (1 cohort, 15,765 participants; RR, 0.88 [0.88, 0.89]), coronary heart disease (6 cohorts, 233,676 participants; RR, 0.89 [95% CI: 0.81, 0.98]), CVD mortality (1 cohort, 118,363 participants; RR, 0.95 [95% CI: 0.90, 0.99]), and total mortality (1 cohort, 118,363 participants; RR, 0.96 [95% CI: 0.94, 0.98]) with no adverse associations across other outcomes. Substitution of water for SSBs showed lower weight (3 cohorts, 165,579 participants; MD, -0.10 [95% CI: -0.13, -0.06] kg/y), lower waist circumference (1 cohort, 173 participants; MD, -2.71[95% CI: -4.27, -1.15] cm/y) and percent body fat (1 cohort, 173 participants; MD, -1.51 [95% CI: -2.61, -0.42] %/y), and lower incidence of obesity (1 cohort, 15,765 participants; RR, 0.85 [95% CI: 0.75, 0.97]) and diabetes (3 cohorts, 281,855 participants; RR, 0.96 [95% CI: 95% CI: 0.94, 0.98]). Substitution of LNCSBs for water showed no adverse associations. Limitations: The evidence was low to very low certainty owing downgrades for imprecision, indirectness and/or inconsistency. Conclusions: LNCSBs were not associated with cardiometabolic harm in analyses that model the exposure as change or substitutions. The available evidence provides some indication that LNCSBs in their intended substitution for SSBs may be associated with cardiometabolic benefit, comparable to the standard of care, water. 

Funding

The Diabetes and Nutrition Study Group (DNSG) of the European Association of the Study of Diabetes (EASD) commissioned this systematic review and meta-analysis and provided funding and logistical support for meetings as part of the development of the EASD Clinical Practice Guidelines for Nutrition Therapy. This work was also supported by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (funding reference number, 129920) through the Canada-wide Human Nutrition Trialists’ Network (NTN). The Diet, Digestive tract, and Disease (3-D) Centre, funded through the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI) and the Ministry of Research and Innovation’s Ontario Research Fund (ORF), provided the infrastructure for the conduct of this project. TAK is funded by a Toronto 3D Post-doctoral Fellowship Award. JLS is funded by a Diabetes Canada Clinician Scientist award. The sponsors did not have a role in any aspect of the present study, including design and conduct of the study; collection, management, analysis, and interpretation of the data; and preparation, review, approval of the manuscript or decision to publish. The Clinical Practice Guidelines Committee of the DNSG of the EASD had input on all aspects of the work. No other funders had a role in the design or conduct of the study; collection, management, analysis, and interpretation of the data; and preparation, review, approval of the manuscript or decision to publish.

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