Associations Between Sugar-sweetened Beverage Intake and Metabolic Syndrome among Postmenopausal Black Women with Obesity and a Family History of Breast Cancer

Abstract Sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) consumption is linked to increased metabolic syndrome (MetS) and breast cancer risk. This cross-sectional study examined associations between SSB intake and MetS by family history of breast cancer among postmenopausal Black women with obesity. Baseline data of 210 participants from the Focused Intervention on Exercise to Reduce CancEr (FIERCE) clinical trial were used. SSB intake was assessed with the Block 2005 Food Frequency Questionnaire and family history of breast cancer was collected via a self-report questionnaire. Women with a family history of breast cancer who had high (vs. low) SSB intake had higher triglycerides (29.69 mg/dL higher, p = .011), lower HDL cholesterol (7.94 mg/dL lower, p = .027), and a higher MetS z-score (1.89 units higher, p < .001). Adjusting for relevant covariates, greater SSB intake predicted a higher MetS z-score (b = .01, pinteraction = .031) and fasting glucose (b = .02, pinteraction = .013) compared to lower SSB intake, only in women with a family history of breast cancer. Greater consumption of SSB subtypes (sugary juices, iced tea, and others) were associated with higher triglycerides, fasting glucose, and/or MetS z-score compared to lower consumption, only in women with a family history of breast cancer (pinteractions < .05). Higher SSB consumption is linked to higher fasting glucose, triglycerides, and overall MetS risk in postmenopausal Black women with a family history of breast cancer. Targeted multilevel interventions to reduce SSB consumption and improve metabolic health in this population are warranted.