Cola raises risk of high blood pressure

November 9, 2005 in Heart Health, Nutrition Topics in the News

Cola raises risk of high blood pressure

According to the results of a study examining the effects of various caffeine-containing products on blood pressure, coffee was not found to have an effect, while cola beverages were found to increase the risk.

While previous reports have tied caffeine intake with acute elevations in blood pressure, the long-term effects have remained unclear. To examine the effects of caffeine on blood pressure, researchers studied over 150, 000 women who participated in the Nurses' Health Studies I and II. The subjects were free of high blood pressure when the studies began in the early 1990s and were followed over 12 years.

When an analysis by beverage type was performed, habitual coffee intake was not linked to an elevated risk of high blood pressure. By contrast, drinking cola beverages, either sugared or diet, seemed to increase the risk of hypertension significantly.

Researchers state that further research is needed to examine the direct relationship between cola beverages and hypertension.

All research on this web site is the property of Leslie Beck Nutrition Consulting Inc. and is protected by copyright. Keep in mind that research on these matters continues daily and is subject to change. The information presented is not intended as a substitute for medical treatment. It is intended to provide ongoing support of your healthy lifestyle practices.