Sugar-sweetened drinks and health outcomes across 47 meta-analyses
What it found
Drinking more sugar-sweetened beverages was linked to higher risks of several health problems, including depression, heart disease, kidney stones, type 2 diabetes and higher uric acid.
The evidence came from studies that followed people over time.
What they found
Studies in people
Overall link
79% of the analyses showed direct associations between greater sugar-sweetened beverage consumption and higher risks of adverse health outcomes.
Convincing evidence
Convincing evidence supported direct associations with risks of depression, cardiovascular disease, nephrolithiasis, type 2 diabetes mellitus, and higher uric acid concentrations.
Highly suggestive evidence
Highly suggestive evidence supported associations with risks of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and dental caries.
Other analyses
Out of the remaining 40 meta-analyses, 29 were graded as suggestive or weak in the strength of evidence, and 11 showed no evidence.
What the authors conclude
“These findings inform and provide support for population-based and public health strategies aimed at reducing sugary drink consumption for improved health.”
Also in their conclusions
- They say these findings inform and provide support for population-based and public health strategies aimed at reducing sugary drink consumption for improved health.
How it was done
The authors wanted to review evidence from meta-analyses of observational studies on the link between sugar-sweetened beverage consumption and human health outcomes.
They evaluated evidence from 47 meta-analyses covering 22,055,269 individuals, using predefined evidence classification criteria.
What it can’t tell you
- We summarised it from the abstract only.
- These were observational studies, so they can show a link but not that sugar-sweetened drinks cause these outcomes.
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
- Abstract only
- 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-062322-020650PubMed 39207876DOI
Summary written 26 Sep 2026. Check it against the paper before it changes what you eat. How we summarise papers · Report an error