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Dietary fructose in relation to blood pressure and serum uric acid in adolescent boys and girls

Abstract

Evidence that fructose intake may modify blood pressure is generally limited to adult populations. This study examined cross-sectional associations between dietary intake of fructose, serum uric acid and blood pressure in 814 adolescents aged 13–15 years participating in the Western Australian Pregnancy Cohort (Raine) Study. Energy-adjusted fructose intake was derived from 3-day food records, serum uric acid concentration was assessed using fasting blood and resting blood pressure was determined using repeated oscillometric readings. In multivariate linear regression models, we did not see a significant association between fructose and blood pressure in boys or girls. In boys, fructose intake was independently associated with serum uric acid (P<0.01), and serum uric acid was independently associated with systolic blood pressure (P<0.01) and mean arterial pressure (P<0.001). Although there are independent associations, there is no direct relationship between fructose intake and blood pressure. Our data suggest that gender may influence these relationships in adolescence, with significant associations observed more frequently in boys than girls.

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Acknowledgements

We extend our thanks to the Raine Study participants and their families, and also to the Raine Study team for data collection and cohort coordination. We also thank the Royal Perth Hospital laboratories. Core management funding for the Raine Study is provided by the University of Western Australia, Raine Medical Research Foundation at UWA, the Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences at UWA, the Telethon Institute for Child Health Research, Women and Infants Research Foundation, the Telethon Institute for Child Health Research and Curtin University. Funding for the 14-year follow-up was provided by NH&MRC (CIA Sly; ID 211912), NH&MRC Programme Grant (CIA Stanley; ID 003209), the Telstra Research Foundation, the West Australian Health Promotion Foundation, the Australian Rotary Health Research Fund and the National Heart Foundation of Australia, Beyond Blue.

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Correspondence to T A O'Sullivan.

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Bobridge, K., Haines, G., Mori, T. et al. Dietary fructose in relation to blood pressure and serum uric acid in adolescent boys and girls. J Hum Hypertens 27, 217–224 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1038/jhh.2012.36

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