Fructose, food matrix and blood pressure
What it found
In a small trial in people, fructose taken as a drink raised systolic blood pressure more than the same amount eaten as apple.
In a separate large group, fructose from sugar-sweetened drinks, but not from fruit, was linked to higher blood pressure.
What they found
Studies in people
Drinks and blood pressure
Fructose from sugar-sweetened beverages, but not from fruits or fruit juice, was linked to higher 7-day ambulatory blood pressure, higher office blood pressure, and greater risk of hypertension.
Serum fructose levels
In the crossover trial, pure fructose taken in water gave the largest rises in serum fructose compared with the other forms.
Systolic blood pressure
Systolic blood pressure rose more after pure fructose than after the other matrices, by 1.8 mmHg.
What the authors conclude
“Here, we provide epidemiological and experimental evidence that highlights the relevance of the food matrix on fructose dynamics and blood pressure, independent of the caloric value of fructose.”
Also in their conclusions
- They say their findings provide evidence that the food matrix matters for fructose dynamics and blood pressure.
- They note this is independent of the calorie value of fructose.
How it was done
Fruit and sugar-sweetened drinks have opposite effects on heart and metabolic health even though they contain similar amounts of fructose per serving. The authors wanted to see whether the food matrix plays a role in this difference.
First, they looked at fructose intake from different sources and blood pressure in 5,426 to 6,471 people from The Maastricht Study. Then they ran a randomized crossover trial in 21 healthy people who each took 20g of fructose as apple, mashed apple, apple juice, or fructose dissolved in water, and measured serum fructose and blood pressure.
What it can’t tell you
- We summarised it from the abstract only.
- The trial was small and short, so it cannot show long-term effects on blood pressure or heart health.
- The large group study can show links, not cause and effect.
Who paid
- Conflicts
- Conflict of interest The authors have declared that no conflicts of interest exist.
- Authors work at
- Maastricht University Medical Center+, the Netherlands; Maastricht University, the Netherlands
The paper
- Title
- The effects of dietary fructose on blood pressure are modified by the food matrix
- Type
- Randomised controlled trial
- Evidence
- Studies in people
- Summarised from
- Abstract only
- Cite
- van Oeteren MAJ, de Groot DM, Buziau AM, et al (2025). The effects of dietary fructose on blood pressure are modified by the food matrix. Clinical nutrition (Edinburgh, Scotland). doi:10.1016/j.clnu.2025.10.017PubMed 41202663DOI
Summary written 26 Sep 2026. Check it against the paper before it changes what you eat. How we summarise papers · Report an error