In this paper, Brown et al. reviewed the potential role of sugar drinks in the pathogenesis of obesity and cardiovascular disease. Data from the Economic Research Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture indicated that the average American consumed 64 kg of added sugars in 2005. The main source of added sugar in the diet comes from soft drinks, which account for 1/3 of the total daily sugar intake. Of particular importance is the fact that in less than 20 years, the daily energy intake contributed by consumption of soft drinks increased by more than 80% in children and adolescents between 2-18 years of age. This review paper examined the relationship between soft drinks and weight gain. Several other topics were also reviewed, including the link between fructose consumption and adiposity, fructose and insulin resistance, and refined sugar and cardiovascular disease. Also examined were uric acid (a link between fructose and cardiovascular disease), chronic studies in humans, acute effects of soft drinks in humans, potential interactions of soft drinks with fast food, the role of caffeine in soft drinks, and whether high-fructose corn syrup is really a major health problem.
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