Frequent consumption of carbonated and fruit drinks and high coffee intake are associated with increased risk of stroke

The study also found that drinking four or more cups of coffee a day also increased the risk of stroke.

This finding comes from two analyzes of the published INTERSTROKE research project, reporting the effects of carbonated beverages, fruit juices/beverages, and water. Stroke Journal; and findings on tea and coffee. International Stroke Journal.

A stroke occurs when the blood supply to part of the brain is cut off and brain cells are damaged. A stroke is usually either an ischemic stroke, which is caused by a blood clot, or when an intracerebral hemorrhage occurs, which is bleeding into the brain tissue. .

INTERSTROKE is one of the largest international studies of stroke risk factors, involving approximately 27,000 participants in 27 countries, including approximately 13,500 people who have experienced a stroke for the first time.

The people who took part in the study were from a wide range of geographical and ethnic backgrounds with different cardiovascular risk profiles, including Ireland and the United Kingdom.

A study focused on people's intake of carbonated beverages and fruit juices and found that:

• Carbonated drinks, including both sugar-sweetened and artificial sweeteners such as diet and sugar-free, are associated with a 22% increased risk of stroke, and the risk increases sharply if you drink two or more of these drinks a day. will increase to
• The association between carbonated drinks and the likelihood of stroke was highest in Eastern and Central Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and South America.
• Studies have shown that many products sold as fruit juices are made from concentrates and have added sugars and preservatives, which offset the benefits typically associated with fresh fruit and actually It has been suggested that the risk of stroke may increase.
• Fruit juice drinks were associated with a 37% increased chance of stroke due to hemorrhage (intracranial hemorrhage). Drinking two cups a day triples your risk
• Women are at the highest risk of stroke from bleeding (intracranial hemorrhage) associated with fruit juices and drinks.
• Drinking more than 7 cups of water a day was associated with a lower chance of stroke caused by blood clots.

Professor Andrew Smith, lead researcher on both studies and Professor of Clinical Epidemiology at the University of Galway and Consultant Physician at Galway University Hospital, said:ahNot all fruit drinks are created equal. Freshly squeezed fruit juices are most likely to be beneficial, but fruit drinks made from concentrates with large amounts of added sugar or preservatives can be harmful. Our research also shows that the more frequently you consume carbonated drinks, the more likely you are to have a stroke.

“As doctors and people who have studied stroke risk, we recommend that people avoid or minimize their intake of carbonated soft drinks and fruit drinks and consider switching to water instead. ”

A study focusing on people's coffee and tea consumption found that:

• Drinking four or more cups of coffee a day increases the chance of stroke by 37%, but drinking less coffee is not associated with stroke risk.
• Drinking tea has been found to reduce the chance of stroke by 18-20%
• It was found that drinking 3-4 cups of tea per day, including breakfast and Earl Gray tea, reduced the chance of stroke by 29%. Does not include green tea or herbal tea.
• Drinking 3-4 cups of green tea per day lowers chance of stroke by 27%
• Adding milk can reduce or block the beneficial effects of the antioxidants found in tea. The reduction in stroke risk associated with drinking black tea was lost in those who added milk.
• There were important geographic differences in the findings. Tea was associated with a lower chance of stroke in China and South America, but a higher chance of stroke in South Asia

Professor Martin O'Donnell, Head of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences at the University of Galway and Consultant Stroke Physician at Galway University Hospital, is co-leading the INTERSTROKE study in collaboration with Professor Salim Yusuf from the McMaster Population Health Research Institute. . Canadian university.

Professor O'Donnell said: “The main goal of the INTERSTROKE study is to provide useful information about how to reduce the risk of stroke. High blood pressure is the most important risk factor, but a healthy lifestyle in diet and “You can also reduce your risk of stroke by making choices.” Current research adds more information about healthy choices in daily beverage intake. ”