Sugar-sweetened drinks linked to health risks in 47 analyses
What it found
Across 47 meta-analyses of observational studies in people, greater sugar-sweetened drink consumption was linked to higher risks of several health problems, including depression, heart disease, type 2 diabetes and dental caries.
The authors graded the evidence as convincing for some of these links and weaker for others.
What they found
Studies in people
Convincing evidence for some outcomes
The authors found convincing evidence linking greater sugar-sweetened drink consumption to higher risks of depression, cardiovascular disease, kidney stones, type 2 diabetes, and higher uric acid levels.
Highly suggestive evidence
They found highly suggestive evidence for links to nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and dental caries.
Weaker evidence for other outcomes
For many other outcomes, including some cancers and gastrointestinal conditions, the evidence was weaker or showed no link.
Dose-response links
Each additional 250 mL of sugar-sweetened drinks per day was linked to higher risks of all-cause mortality, cancer mortality, and stroke. In children, each extra daily serving was linked to higher body mass index.
Overall pattern
Overall, 79% of the analyses showed that greater consumption of sugar-sweetened drinks was linked to higher risks of adverse health outcomes.
What the authors conclude
“Our umbrella review shows that the strongest evidence against sugar-sweetened beverage consumption pertains to direct associations with higher risks of depression, dental caries, and cardiometabolic diseases.”
Also in their conclusions
- They conclude that the strongest evidence against sugar-sweetened beverage consumption pertains to direct associations with higher risks of depression, dental caries, and cardiometabolic diseases.
- They state that addressing sugar-sweetened beverage consumption by population-based and public health strategies is a pressing imperative to improve dietary quality and human health.
How it was done
The authors wanted to evaluate the evidence from meta-analyses of observational studies on the link between sugar-sweetened drink consumption and human health outcomes, to inform public health strategies.
They searched for and analysed 47 meta-analyses of observational studies, covering 22,055,269 people. They graded the strength of evidence for each link between sugar-sweetened drinks and health outcomes.
What it can’t tell you
- These are observational studies, so they can show links but cannot prove that sugar-sweetened drinks cause these health outcomes.
- The review cannot rule out that other factors, like overall diet or lifestyle, might explain some of the links.
Who paid
- Authors work at
- Deakin University, Australia; Research Institute for Future Health, Australia; Bond University Nutrition and Dietetics Research Group, Australia
The paper
- Title
- Sugar-Sweetened Beverages and Adverse Human Health Outcomes: An Umbrella Review of Meta-Analyses of Observational Studies
- Type
- Systematic review
- Evidence
- Studies in people
- Summarised from
- Full text
- Licence
- CC BY. Words in quotation marks are the authors’; the rest is our summary.
- Cite
- Lane MM, Travica N, Gamage E, et al (2024). Sugar-Sweetened Beverages and Adverse Human Health Outcomes: An Umbrella Review of Meta-Analyses of Observational Studies. Annual review of nutrition. doi:10.1146/annurev-nutr-062322-020650Free full textPubMed 39207876DOI
Summary written 26 Sep 2026. Check it against the paper before it changes what you eat. How we summarise papers · Report an error