Soft drink consumption is positively associated with metabolic syndrome risk factors only in Korean women: Data from the 2007–2011 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey

ObjectiveTo examine the association between sugar-sweetened beverage consumption and metabolic syndrome risk factors in Korean adults.MethodsWe used data from 13,972 participants (5432 men and 8540 women) aged ≥ 30 years, from the 2007–2011 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. The subjects were divided into six groups based on their soft drink consumption levels from a food frequency questionnaire. Dietary sugar intake was compared among groups using 24-hour dietary recall data.ResultsThe highest soft drink consumption frequency category was ≥ 4 times per week, observed in 4.6% of men and 1.7% of women. The percentage of energy from total sugar and sugar in processed foods increased with increased soft drink consumption in both men and women. In the highest consumption group, the percentage of energy from sugar in processed foods was 8.9% in men and 11.0% in women. After adjusting for potential confounding variables, greater consumption of soft drinks was positively associated with all of the components of metabolic syndrome, except the high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol level, in women only. Women who consumed soft drinks ≥ 4 times per week had a 74% higher risk of metabolic syndrome compared to those who consumed soft drinks infrequently (OR: 1.74; 95% CI: 1.00–3.03; P for trend < 0.0001).ConclusionHigh levels of soft drink consumption might constitute an important determinant of metabolic syndrome and its components only in Korean adult women.