Sugary drinks may increase unhealthy blood fat levels.

The largest source of added sugar in the American diet, sugary drinks, are linked in a recent study to higher blood levels of LDL cholesterol and other dangerous fats.

The study, which will be published in The Journal of Nutrition in November 2022, drew on nutrition and health information from almost 29,000 participants in two ongoing studies. Researchers concentrated on the consumption of ordinary sodas, lemonade, fruit drinks, and other drinks with added sugar by the participants. Increased levels of undesirable blood fats (lipids), such as LDL (bad) cholesterol, triglycerides, and other lipids linked to a higher risk of cardiovascular disease, were shown to be associated with higher intakes (more than one 12-ounce serving per day).

The findings are in line with prior studies on this subject, despite the fact that they do not demonstrate that sugary beverages raise blood lipid levels.