High consumption of sugar-sweetened soft drinks is associated with an increased prevalence—but not incidence—of hyperuricemia and chronic kidney disease (CKD), according to a study in Kidney International.
The study included 17,745 participants in the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities study, who provided baseline data on their consumption of sugar-sweetened sodas. About 5 percent reported drinking more than one soda per day. Based on serum creatinine and uric acid measurements, 37 percent of participants met sex-specific criteria for hyperuricemia while 3.1 percent had prevalent CKD.
On multivariate analysis, individuals who drank more than one soda per day had an increased prevalence of hyperuricemia, compared to those who drank less than one soda per day: odds ratio 1.31. The prevalence of CKD was increased for participants who drank more than one soda per day and who had a serum uric acid level of greater than 9.0 mg/dL: odds ratio 2.59.
A longitudinal analysis was performed using three- and nine-year follow-up data. The results showed no association between soda consumption and the incidence of hyperuricemia or CKD. Soda consumption was unrelated to incident CKD risk, regardless of whether hyperuricemia was present at baseline or developed during follow-up. Consumption of diet soda was unrelated to prevalent or incident hyperuricemia or CKD.
Rising rates of obesity, metabolic syndrome, and CKD have occurred at a time of increasing consumption of high-fructose corn syrup—most of it in soft drinks. Two recent studies have linked sweetened soda consumption to albuminuria and elevated serum creatinine. Both of these studies focused on prevalence and neither looked at the effects of elevated uric acid.
The new study finds increased rates of prevalent hyperuricemia among Americans who drink more than one sugar-sweetened soda per day. Prevalence of CKD is increased for heavy soda drinkers with hyperuricemia. However, there are no similar associations on longitudinal analysis of incident hyperuricemia and CKD. “[O]ur findings add to but in no way close the heated discussion over the potential dangers of sugar-sweetened soda,” the investigators conclude [Bomback AS, et al. Sugar-sweetened soda consumption, hyperuricemia, and kidney disease. Kidney Int 2010; 77:609–616].
