title: Consumption of sucrose-sweetened soft drinks increases plasma levels of uric acid in overweight and obese subjects: a 6-month randomised controlled trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Sucrose-sweetened soft drinks (SSSDs) are associated with the development of metabolic disorders. Fructose is a major component of SSSDs and is demonstrated to induce uric acid (UA) production and stimulate fat accumulation independent of excess caloric intake. UA induce insulin resistance and low-grade inflammation, suggesting that UA may have a causal role in the development of metabolic complications. The objective of this study is to investigate the long-term effects of consuming SSSDs on circulating levels of UA in overweight and obese subjects.
  
  
  METHODS
  Using a previously published study, circulating UA levels were assessed at baseline and after 6 months using chromogenic enzymatic absorptiometry. The study included 47 overweight and obese subjects without diabetes, randomised to consume 1 l daily of either SSSD (regular cola), isocaloric semi-skimmed milk, diet cola or water for 6 months.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Circulating UA levels increased ~15% (P = 0.02) after the 6-month intervention in the SSSD group with no change in the other groups. In the SSSD group, circulating UA levels increased significantly after the intervention in both absolute (P = 0.005) and relative values (P = 0.004). The change in UA after the intervention correlated with changes in liver fat (P = 0.005), triglycerides (P = 0.02) and insulin (P = 0.002).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In this secondary analysis daily intake of 1 l SSSD for 6 months was found to increase circulating UA levels compared with isocaloric milk, diet cola and water. Thus, a high daily intake of SSSDs in overweight and obese subjects without overt diabetes may increase the risk of developing metabolic complications through the elevation of UA. This trial is registered at ClinicalTrials.gov as NCT00777647.
authors.affiliation: 1] Department of Endocrinology and Internal Medicine (MEA), Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark [2] Medical Department, Regional Hospital of Randers, Randers, Denmark.
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Bruun
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology and Internal Medicine (MEA), Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Maersk
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition, Exercise and Sports, Faculty of Science, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Belza
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition, Exercise and Sports, Faculty of Science, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Astrup
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology and Internal Medicine (MEA), Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Richelsen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D002253:Carbonated Beverages / Q000009:adverse effects*; D019422:Dietary Sucrose / Q000009:adverse effects*; D060766:Drinking Water / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008659:Metabolic Diseases / Q000209:etiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D008892:Milk / Q000009:adverse effects; D009765:Obesity / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications; D050177:Overweight / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications; D012307:Risk Factors; D013549:Sweetening Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D013997:Time Factors; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood; D014527:Uric Acid / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D019422:Dietary Sucrose; D060766:Drinking Water; D007328:Insulin; D013549:Sweetening Agents; D014280:Triglycerides; D014527:Uric Acid