High intake of added sugars is associated with increased risk for low HDL cholesterol and high triglycerides, according to a JAMA report.


Researchers studied some 6000 adults participating in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). Consumption of added sugars (e.g., high-fructose corn syrup and other caloric sweeteners used in prepared foods) was calculated from 24-hour dietary recalls.


In adjusted analyses, the odds of having low HDL cholesterol and high triglycerides rose significantly with increasing intake of added sugars. For example, compared with adults who got less than 5% of their total energy intake from added sugars, those getting 17.5%–25% of their energy from added sugars were about twice as likely to have low HDL levels.


The researchers found no consistent association between added sugars and LDL cholesterol.