Key TakeawaysA new observational study linked artificially sweetened beverages with a 20% increase in atrial fibrillation risk.The same study associated pure fruit or vegetable juice with an 8% lower atrial fibrillation risk.Experts recommend limiting or avoiding sweetened beverages for heart health.

Key Takeaways

A new observational study linked artificially sweetened beverages with a 20% increase in atrial fibrillation risk.The same study associated pure fruit or vegetable juice with an 8% lower atrial fibrillation risk.Experts recommend limiting or avoiding sweetened beverages for heart health.

Drinking artificially sweetened beverages, like Diet Coke or Crystal Light, might increaseatrial fibrillation (AFib)risk, according to a new observational study.AFib, or an irregular heartbeat, is a common condition that can lead to stroke, heart failure, and blood clots.

The new study included 10 years of data from 201,856 individuals. People who drank at least 2 liters of artificially sweetened beverages each week—less than one standard 12oz can of soda per day—had a 20% higher risk of AFib. Drinking the same amount of sugar-sweetened beverages was associated with a 10% increased AFib risk.

“Based on the results of the study reported, it seems prudent to decrease consumption of artificially sweetened drinks to lower risk of AFib, especially in persons at high risk due to a strong family history of AFib, but also in the general public, given the projected increase in AFib prevalence in the future,” Penny M. Kris-Etherton, PhD, RD, FAHA, emeritus professor of nutritional sciences at Penn State University, told Verywell in an email.

The new study does not prove that sweetened beverages cause AFib. However, other studies have also linked these drinks with poor health outcomes. A large 2022 observational study found that artificial sweeteners in food and drink were linked to a 9% higher risk of heart problems.

Research has also associated artificially sweetened and sugar-sweetened beverages with type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and death.

“We know that there are a lot of negative effects associated with artificial sweeteners. It’s really quite provocative, but I do think it’s real,”Larry Chinitz, MD, director of the Heart Rhythm Center at NYU Langone Heart, told Verywell.

100% Fruit Juice Linked to Lower AFib Risk

Natural sugar seems to be a healthier alternative to artificial sweeteners, according to the new study. Drinking about 1 liter of pure fruit and vegetable juice per week was associated with an 8% lower AFib.

Lena Beal, MS, RDN, LD, a cardiovascular dietitian at Piedmont Atlanta Hospital, told Verywell in an email that 100% fruit juice contains vitamin C and other antioxidants that are linked to lower blood pressure, reduced oxidative stress, and reduced inflammation. All these can lead to a lower risk of AFib.

However, pure fruit juice can have as much sugar as sweetened beverages.More research is needed to prove that pure fruit juice can lower AFib risk. Research also suggests that whole fruit is better for heart health than pure fruit juice, especially since whole fruit contains fiber that can help lower blood pressure and cholesterol.

Chinitz said the study might have found a connection between pure fruit juice and reduced risk of AFib because people who opt for juice over artificially sweetened beverages may make additional lifestyle decisions that help reduce AFib risk.

“If people are healthy and they’re drinking natural types of juices and they’re not using large doses of additional sugar or artificial sweeteners, maybe those lifestyle choices also relate to weight, exercise, healthy living, alcohol, caffeine,” Chinitz said.

100% Orange Juice May Help Fight Inflammation and Oxidative Stress

Other Factors That Can Reduce AFib Risk

However, the American Heart Association published a scientific statement in 2020 acknowledging that lifestyle interventions can help people manage AFib, even though more studies are needed.

“They don’t necessarily eliminate the problem, but they certainly can help,” Chinitz said.

Heart-healthy lifestyle changes like managing stress, being physically active, maintaining a healthy weight, reducing alcohol consumption, and quitting smoking can help lower the risk.

“AFib nowadays is amongst the most common cardiac things that we deal with. You can’t get away from recognizing the importance of a healthy lifestyle, which includes diet and exercise,” Chinitz said. “There’s no question that excessive sugar and even these artificial sweeteners are just not healthy. So caution about that.”

If Aspartame Is a ‘Possible Carcinogen,’ Can You Still Drink Diet Coke?

What This Means For YouThe new observational study does not prove a causal relationship between artificially sweetened beverages and AFib risk. However, based on the findings, researchers recommend reducing the consumption of artificially sweetened and sugar-sweetened beverages whenever possible.

What This Means For You

The new observational study does not prove a causal relationship between artificially sweetened beverages and AFib risk. However, based on the findings, researchers recommend reducing the consumption of artificially sweetened and sugar-sweetened beverages whenever possible.

10 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Sun Y, Yu B, Yu Y, et al.Sweetened beverages, genetic susceptibility, and incident atrial fibrillation: a prospective cohort study.Circ Arrhythm Electrophysiol. Published online March 5, 2024. doi:10.1161/CIRCEP.123.012145American Heart Association.What is atrial fibrillation?.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Atrial fibrillation.Debras C, Chazelas E, Sellem L, et al.Artificial sweeteners and risk of cardiovascular diseases: results from the prospective NutriNet-Santé cohort.BMJ. 2022;378:e071204. doi:10.1136/bmj-2022-071204Meng Y, Li S, Khan J, et al.Sugar- and artificially sweetened beverages consumption linked to type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and all-cause mortality: a systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis of prospective cohort studies.Nutrients. 2021;13(8):2636. doi:10.3390/nu13082636Auerbach BJ, Dibey S, Vallila-Buchman P, Kratz M, Krieger J.Review of 100% fruit juice and chronic health conditions: implications for sugar-sweetened beverage policy.Adv Nutr. 2018;9(2):78-85. doi:10.1093/advances/nmx006Scheffers FR, Boer JMA, Verschuren WMM, et al.Pure fruit juice and fruit consumption and the risk of CVD: the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition–Netherlands (EPIC-NL) study.Br J Nutr. 2019;121(3):351-359. doi:10.1017/S0007114518003380Harvard Health Publishing.Eat more fiber-rich foods to foster heart health.National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.Atrial fibrillation causes and risk factors.Chung MK, Eckhardt LL, Chen LY, et al.Lifestyle and risk factor modification for reduction of atrial fibrillation: a scientific statement from the American Heart Association.Circulation. 2020;141(16). doi:10.1161/CIR.0000000000000748

10 Sources

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Sun Y, Yu B, Yu Y, et al.Sweetened beverages, genetic susceptibility, and incident atrial fibrillation: a prospective cohort study.Circ Arrhythm Electrophysiol. Published online March 5, 2024. doi:10.1161/CIRCEP.123.012145American Heart Association.What is atrial fibrillation?.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Atrial fibrillation.Debras C, Chazelas E, Sellem L, et al.Artificial sweeteners and risk of cardiovascular diseases: results from the prospective NutriNet-Santé cohort.BMJ. 2022;378:e071204. doi:10.1136/bmj-2022-071204Meng Y, Li S, Khan J, et al.Sugar- and artificially sweetened beverages consumption linked to type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and all-cause mortality: a systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis of prospective cohort studies.Nutrients. 2021;13(8):2636. doi:10.3390/nu13082636Auerbach BJ, Dibey S, Vallila-Buchman P, Kratz M, Krieger J.Review of 100% fruit juice and chronic health conditions: implications for sugar-sweetened beverage policy.Adv Nutr. 2018;9(2):78-85. doi:10.1093/advances/nmx006Scheffers FR, Boer JMA, Verschuren WMM, et al.Pure fruit juice and fruit consumption and the risk of CVD: the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition–Netherlands (EPIC-NL) study.Br J Nutr. 2019;121(3):351-359. doi:10.1017/S0007114518003380Harvard Health Publishing.Eat more fiber-rich foods to foster heart health.National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.Atrial fibrillation causes and risk factors.Chung MK, Eckhardt LL, Chen LY, et al.Lifestyle and risk factor modification for reduction of atrial fibrillation: a scientific statement from the American Heart Association.Circulation. 2020;141(16). doi:10.1161/CIR.0000000000000748

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Sun Y, Yu B, Yu Y, et al.Sweetened beverages, genetic susceptibility, and incident atrial fibrillation: a prospective cohort study.Circ Arrhythm Electrophysiol. Published online March 5, 2024. doi:10.1161/CIRCEP.123.012145American Heart Association.What is atrial fibrillation?.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Atrial fibrillation.Debras C, Chazelas E, Sellem L, et al.Artificial sweeteners and risk of cardiovascular diseases: results from the prospective NutriNet-Santé cohort.BMJ. 2022;378:e071204. doi:10.1136/bmj-2022-071204Meng Y, Li S, Khan J, et al.Sugar- and artificially sweetened beverages consumption linked to type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and all-cause mortality: a systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis of prospective cohort studies.Nutrients. 2021;13(8):2636. doi:10.3390/nu13082636Auerbach BJ, Dibey S, Vallila-Buchman P, Kratz M, Krieger J.Review of 100% fruit juice and chronic health conditions: implications for sugar-sweetened beverage policy.Adv Nutr. 2018;9(2):78-85. doi:10.1093/advances/nmx006Scheffers FR, Boer JMA, Verschuren WMM, et al.Pure fruit juice and fruit consumption and the risk of CVD: the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition–Netherlands (EPIC-NL) study.Br J Nutr. 2019;121(3):351-359. doi:10.1017/S0007114518003380Harvard Health Publishing.Eat more fiber-rich foods to foster heart health.National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.Atrial fibrillation causes and risk factors.Chung MK, Eckhardt LL, Chen LY, et al.Lifestyle and risk factor modification for reduction of atrial fibrillation: a scientific statement from the American Heart Association.Circulation. 2020;141(16). doi:10.1161/CIR.0000000000000748

Sun Y, Yu B, Yu Y, et al.Sweetened beverages, genetic susceptibility, and incident atrial fibrillation: a prospective cohort study.Circ Arrhythm Electrophysiol. Published online March 5, 2024. doi:10.1161/CIRCEP.123.012145

American Heart Association.What is atrial fibrillation?.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Atrial fibrillation.

Debras C, Chazelas E, Sellem L, et al.Artificial sweeteners and risk of cardiovascular diseases: results from the prospective NutriNet-Santé cohort.BMJ. 2022;378:e071204. doi:10.1136/bmj-2022-071204

Meng Y, Li S, Khan J, et al.Sugar- and artificially sweetened beverages consumption linked to type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and all-cause mortality: a systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis of prospective cohort studies.Nutrients. 2021;13(8):2636. doi:10.3390/nu13082636

Auerbach BJ, Dibey S, Vallila-Buchman P, Kratz M, Krieger J.Review of 100% fruit juice and chronic health conditions: implications for sugar-sweetened beverage policy.Adv Nutr. 2018;9(2):78-85. doi:10.1093/advances/nmx006

Scheffers FR, Boer JMA, Verschuren WMM, et al.Pure fruit juice and fruit consumption and the risk of CVD: the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition–Netherlands (EPIC-NL) study.Br J Nutr. 2019;121(3):351-359. doi:10.1017/S0007114518003380

Harvard Health Publishing.Eat more fiber-rich foods to foster heart health.

National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.Atrial fibrillation causes and risk factors.

Chung MK, Eckhardt LL, Chen LY, et al.Lifestyle and risk factor modification for reduction of atrial fibrillation: a scientific statement from the American Heart Association.Circulation. 2020;141(16). doi:10.1161/CIR.0000000000000748

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