Abstract
The objective of this cross-sectional study of 735 adults 32 to 38 years old born in Limache Hospital in the Valparaiso region of Chile was to analyze the relationship between consumption of certain sugar-sweetened beverages (SBs) and metabolic syndrome (MS). The association with sweetened soft drinks (SDs) as part of SBs was also studied. No relationship was observed between total consumption of SBs and MS; 89% of the adults consumed SBs, with a daily median of 179 mL. However, consumption of greater than 400 mL SBs per day was associated with 1 component of MS: a high waist circumference (odds ratio [OR], 2.17; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.16-2.51). The median consumption of SDs was 163 mL (p25-75 = 71.4-386). An association between SD consumption and MS was found. Consumption of less than 200 mL had an OR of 1.59 (95% CI, 1.01-2.51); between 200 and 400 mL, an OR of 2.06 (95% CI, 1.20-2.51); and greater than 400 mL, an OR of 2.07 (95% CI, 1.18-3.63), compared with those who did not consume them. Although there was no association between SB intake and MS, consuming SBs in high quantities (>400 mL/d) was associated with increased waist circumference. Greater consumption of SDs was associated with MS.