6
NEWS
Sugary drinks and health
The consumption of sugary drinks is
linked to 9.8% of new cases of Type 2
diabetes (T2D) annually, contributing
to approximately 2.2m cases
worldwide. These beverages are also
linked to 1.2m new cardiovascular
disease (CVD) cases each year, or 3.1%
of the global total, according to a
study published in Nature Medicine.
The researchers analysed data
from the Global Dietary Database of
184 countries between 1990 and 2020
and assessed the effects of beverages
with at least 50 kcal/240 mL serving,
including commercial or homemade
sugary drinks, soft drinks, energy
drinks, industrialized fruit juices,
punches and lemonades. However,
100% natural fruit and vegetable
juices and calorie-free beverages
containing artificial sweeteners were
excluded from the study.
The study revealed that
developing nations are particularly
vulnerable to the health risks posed
by these products. Latin America and
the Caribbean are the most affected,
with 24% of new global cases of T2D
and over 11% of cases of CVD linked
to the consumption of sugar-added
beverages. Colombia and Mexico
were the leading contributors,
with 48% and 30% of new cases of
diabetes linked to these beverages,
respectively. Sub-Saharan Africa
follows, with 21.5% of new cases of
T2D and 10.5% of CVD cases linked to
sugar-sweetened beverages.
The authors concluded that
rising incomes in developing
nations have made sugary drinks
more accessible, fuelling increased
consumption. While patterns vary by
region, young adults and men face
greater health risks than women and
older adults. As consumption has
declined in high-income countries,
beverage companies have shifted
their marketing efforts toward
emerging markets.
The authors urge strengthening
regulatory strategies and introducing
measures to safeguard the health
of these populations, such as
establishing taxes on these products.
New benefits of
metformin
Two new studies have found some new benefits of
using metformin.
One study of more than 1,400 people with metabolic
syndrome (MetS) found that the use of 1700 mg/d
of metformin prevented the development of Type 2
diabetes (T2D). The incidence of T2D was found to
be 80% lower in those taking metformin and 92%
lower amongst those using metformin and adopting a
Mediterranean diet.
The second study found that patients with T2D on
metformin had a lower risk for all-cause dementia than
those not on metformin, with the protective effect
being particularly evident in patients with nonspecified
diabetes. Here, researchers conducted an updated
meta-analysis of published literature to investigate
the effect of metformin therapy on dementia risk in
patients with T2D. They found that metformin use
was linked to a lower incidence of dementia in 24
comparisons from 20 studies and that Metformin use
was associated with a decreased risk for dementia in
patients with nonspecified T2D in 19 comparisons.
Ozempic for CKD
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has
approved semaglutide (Ozempic, Novo Nordisk) for
reducing the risk for worsening kidney disease and
cardiovascular death in adults with both Type 2
diabetes and chronic kidney disease.
The approval is based on the phase 3b results of
the international FLOW kidney outcomes trial, which
involved more than 3,500 individuals with chronic
kidney disease and Type 2 diabetes, randomized
to once-weekly semaglutide or placebo plus
standard care.
The trial found that semaglutide 1 mg produced
a significant 24% relative risk reduction of kidney
disease worsening, end-stage kidney disease, and
death due to cardiovascular disease. The absolute risk
reduction compared with placebo was 4.9% at 3 years.
This approval adds to Ozempic's existing
indications for adults with Type 2 diabetes to improve
glycaemic control and to reduce the risk for major
cardiovascular events in adults who also have known
heart disease.