Latest news with #DellaCorte
Fox News
06-08-2025
- Health
- Fox News
Sugar in drinks linked to higher diabetes risk than that in food, new research finds
A massive study on sugar and type 2 diabetes found that it's far healthier to eat your sugar than to drink it. Researchers from Brigham Young University (BYU) in Utah, along with academics in Germany, analyzed data from 29 studies of over 800,000 people across the U.S., Europe, Asia, Australia and Latin America. The study, published in the journal Advances in Nutrition in May, found that sugar consumed in beverages like soda and fruit juice was consistently linked to a higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes (T2D), while sugar eaten in whole foods wasn't. "Most recommendations lump all sugars together or focus broadly on added sugars," Karen Della Corte, lead author and BYU nutritional science professor, told Fox News Digital. "But our research shows that the health impact of sugar depends greatly on how it's consumed." The data showed that each daily 12-ounce serving of sugar-sweetened beverages like soda or energy drinks increased diabetes risk by 25%, while an 8-ounce serving of fruit juice – including 100% fruit juice, nectars and juice drinks – raised it by 5%. The risks are relative, however — meaning that if someone has a 10% chance of developing type 2 diabetes, drinking four sodas a day could raise that risk to about 20%, not 100%. Meanwhile, natural sugars in whole foods like fruit – or even some added sugar in other fiber-rich foods – were not linked to an increased risk and, in some cases, may even be protective. The difference is that sugary drinks deliver large amounts of rapidly absorbed sugar with no fiber, protein or fat to slow digestion, overwhelming the body's ability to manage blood glucose and insulin, Della Corte said. Sugars in whole foods, however, are surrounded by fiber, protein and healthy fats that slow down digestion and help the body manage blood sugar. While the study is observational and can't prove sugary drinks cause type 2 diabetes, it provides strong evidence that the relationship isn't simply due to broader unhealthy habits — the drinks pose an independent risk. "Lifestyle behaviors always play a role in chronic disease risk, but our analysis shows that the link between sugary drinks and type 2 diabetes persists independent of other factors like physical activity, weight status or smoking," Della Corte said. "Sugary drinks appear to be uniquely harmful on their own." "There is room for sugar in the human diet, and our study showed that moderate amounts can even be protective." Over 38 million Americans – about 12% of the U.S. population – have diabetes, approximately 90% to 95% of which are type 2, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The prevalence of diabetes has risen from 9.7% to 14.3% over the past 20 years, per the agency. Dietary guidelines should focus not just on the amount of sugar consumed but how it's eaten, the researchers said. Future studies are also needed to understand how the form and context of sugar affect metabolism and insulin response, Della Corte added, and long-term controlled trials on how the liver processes sugar in different foods would help clarify its impact on type 2 diabetes risk. "There is room for sugar in the human diet, and our study showed that moderate amounts can even be protective," she said. "It's the source form and context that matter most." Fox News Digital reached out to the Washington, D.C.-based American Beverage Association for comment.
Yahoo
12-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Drinking A Coke Could be Worse Than Eating A Candy Bar
The way you consume sugar might play a role in how bad it is for your health, according to a new study. Researchers at Utah's Brigham Young University, alongside institutions in Germany, found that drinking sugar was linked to a higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes compared to eating it. They claim their findings are the first time a clear dose-response relationship was determined between different sources of sugar and type 2 diabetes prevalence. 'This is the first study to draw clear dose-response relationships between different sugar sources and type 2 diabetes risk. It highlights why drinking your sugar—whether from soda or juice—is more problematic for health than eating it,' said Karen Della Corte, lead author and BYU nutritional science professor, per BYU News. While it may be the first study to establish a clear dose-response relationship, it is not the first time sugary drinks have been identified as a major driver of diabetes. Earlier this year, The Dallas Express reported on another study that found that in 2020 alone, an estimated 2.2 million new cases of diabetes and 1.2 million new cases of heart disease globally were attributed to sugar-sweetened beverages. One reason drinks like soda may be worse is the metabolic effects. Drinks like Coke contain isolated sugars or sugars extracted from sources like fruit and then added to processed foods. These added sugars, found in everything from lemonade to cereals to soda, can drive a greater glycemic impact, which can overwhelm the liver's ability to metabolize them. In turn, this can lead to more liver fat and insulin resistance. The latest study used data from over half a million people worldwide. The researchers found that for each additional daily 12-ounce serving of soda and other beverages sweetened with sugar, a person's chances of developing type 2 diabetes rose by 25%. Notably, the inverse effect was seen for 20 grams of table sugar and total sugar consumed in the same time frame. 'Rather than condemning all added sugars, future dietary guidelines might consider the differential effects of sugar based on its source and form,' said Della Corte.
The Hill
07-06-2025
- Health
- The Hill
Drinking sugar may be worse than eating it, study finds
PROVO, Utah (KTVX) — Drinking your sugar may be worse for you than previously thought. That is, according to a recent study conducted by Brigham Young University (BYU) researchers in collaboration with several researchers from Germany-based institutions. The study, which analyzed data from over half a million people across multiple continents, found that sugar consumed through drinks, such as soda and juice, was consistently linked to a higher risk of Type 2 diabetes. Sugar from other sources reportedly showed no such link or were, in some cases, associated with a lower risk of diabetes. Karen Della Corte, the lead author on the study and a BYU nutritional science professor, said this was the first study to draw clear 'dose-response' relationships between different sugar sources and Type 2 diabetes risks. 'It highlights why drinking your sugar, whether from soda or juice, is more problematic for health than eating it,' said Della Corte. The study suggests the more problematic nature of sugary drinks may come down to differing metabolic effects. Researchers said sugar-sweetened drinks contain isolated sugars that lead to a higher glycemic impact that overwhelm and disrupt metabolism in the liver. This, in turn, increases liver fat and insulin resistance, the study says. Meanwhile, the sugars that can be found in fruits, dairy products, or whole grains do not overload the liver. The beneficial nutrients, such as fiber, fats, and proteins, help slow the blood glucose responses that dietary sugars bring. 'This study underscores the need for even more stringent recommendations for liquid sugars such as those in sugar-sweetened beverages and fruit juice, as they appear to harmfully associate with metabolic health,' Della Corte said. 'Rather than condemning all added sugars, future dietary guidelines might consider the differential effects of sugar based on its source and form.' The study has been published in the Advances in Nutrition journal.
