Sugar-sweetened beverages with or without caffeine and their cardiovascular impact

Cardiovascular diseases are still among the most frequent causes of death worldwide. There is general scientific consensus that arterial hypertension and type 2 diabetes are important pathogenetic forces for the development of coronary heart disease and stroke. An important link between hypertension and type 2 diabetes is obesity, where in particular an accumulation of visceral abdominal adipose tissue is associated with glucose metabolic disturbances, increased sympathetic nervous system activity and intrarenal changes. Whereas type 2 diabetes and obesity were rare at the beginning of the last century, they increased at an almost exponential rate from about 1950 onwards. Approximately in parallel, the consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages developed into great popularity. Regular consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages correlates with an increase in body weight (especially visceral abdominal fat) and increases the risk of developing hypertension, type 2 diabetes, coronary heart disease and stroke. Furthermore, sugar-sweetened beverages are often offered in combination with caffeine - in the form of so-called energy drinks, which are particularly popular among adolescents and young adults. Nevertheless, the mechanisms underlying the cardiovascular responses to sugar-sweetened drinks with or without caffeine - particularly on blood pressure - are poorly understood. This review discusses (i) possible acute and chronic mechanisms underlying the different effects of sugars on postprandial blood pressure regulation. Furthermore, it discusses (ii) acute haemodynamic effects of energy drinks and the potential mechanisms by which sugars (glucose and sucrose) and caffeine may adversely affect the cardiovascular system.