Sugar-sweetened beverage intake tied to concentrations of circulating ceramides
23 Feb 2020
Higher concentrations of distinct ceramide species, known to be linked to adverse metabolic health, are associated with cumulative sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) consumption that contributes to the development of cardiometabolic diseases, suggests a study.
Participants from the Framingham Heart Study’s Offspring Cohort who had three ceramides measured (n=1,561; mean age, 66 years; 59 percent women) were included in this study. SSB consumption was measured four times over ∼14 years.
The authors categorized the participants according to cumulative SSB intake: nonconsumers (0 to <1 SSB serving/mo) and occasional (1 SSB serving/mo to <1 serving/wk), frequent (1 SSB serving/wk to <1 serving/d), and daily (≥ SSB serving/d) consumers.
Multivariable linear regression models were generated to assess the association of cumulative SSB consumption (independent variable) with blood concentrations of ceramides (C16:0, C22:0 and C24:0) and ceramide ratios (C22:0/C16:0 and C24:0/C16:0).
Adjusted models showed a positive association of more frequent cumulative SSB intake with concentrations of the C16:0 and C22:0 ceramides (ptrend<0.05). Daily consumers had higher mean concentrations of the C16:0 (0.01 μg/mL, 95 percent confidence interval [CI], 0.002–0.017 µg/mL) and C22:0 ceramides (0.06 µg/mL, 95 percent CI, 0.018–0.092 µg/mL) than nonconsumers.
Results persisted when modeling continuous cumulative SSB consumption per 1 serving/d.
Effect modification by diabetes status was noted in the association between cumulative SSB consumption and concentrations of the C24:0 ceramide (pinteraction=0.014). Stratified analysis further revealed a positive correlation between more frequent cumulative SSB intake and concentrations of the C24:0 ceramide only in individuals with prediabetes or diabetes (ptrend=0.001).
“Ceramides have been implicated in the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease,” the authors said.