Soda may pose higher hypertension risk to Black teens

Study: Caffeinated soda raises hypertension risk in black teens

CHICAGO, Illinois (Reuters) -- Black adolescents who drink four cans of caffeinated sodas a day could be raising their risk of high blood pressure, according to a study published Monday.

The study in the Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine comes as sales of sodas in schools are already coming under fire for contributing to obesity.

"This paper indicates that the concern about soda consumption in children and teens should not be limited to the fact that soft drinks add more calories to the diet," Margaret Savoca, nutritionist and postdoctoral fellow at the Medical College of Georgia and lead author on the study, said in a news release.

"Caffeine consumption may also impact their blood pressure," she said.

According to the report, the frequency of hypertension among youth is rising, and black adolescents have higher systolic blood pressures -- the top blood pressure number -- than white adolescents. Hypertension can lead to stroke, heart failure and kidney damage.

"Caffeine is considered a preventable risk factor for hypertension and cardiovascular disease," the study authors wrote, adding that it is estimated that 68 percent of boys and 62 percent of girls aged 12 to 17 drink at least one soft drink a day, with a lower number drinking coffee or tea,

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