INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF RESEARCH AND SCIENTIFIC INNOVATION (IJRSI)

ISSN No. 2321-2705 | DOI: 10.51244/IJRSI |Volume XII Issue VIII August 2025

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The global increase in sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) consumption, particularly carbonated soft drinks,

poses significant public health concerns. These beverages are high in added sugars and offer minimal

nutritional value, contributing to adverse health outcomes such as weight gain, insulin resistance, and an

subsequent exercise. Blood glucose levels were measured at baseline (fasting), and at 15-minute intervals post-

consumption, culminating in a post-exercise measurement for the experimental group. Results indicated that

both groups experienced significant increases in blood glucose levels following SSB consumption. However,

the experimental group exhibited a more pronounced spike, with mean blood glucose levels peaking at 145.7

mg/dL compared to 126.1 mg/dL in the control group. Interestingly, post-exercise blood glucose levels in the

experimental group decreased to 93.7 mg/dL, suggesting that moderate-intensity exercise may facilitate

glucose regulation following high sugar intake. These findings underscore the acute glycemic impact of

consuming a 60cl bottle of SSB in sedentary individuals and highlight the potential mitigating effect of

moderate physical activity. Given the association between SSB consumption and increased risk of type 2

diabetes and cardiovascular diseases, these results emphasize the importance of limiting intake of such

which contribute substantially to daily caloric intake without offering essential nutrients (Fu et al., 2024;

Sievenpiper et al., 2025). Regular intake of such drinks has been associated with various adverse health

outcomes, including weight gain, insulin resistance, and an increased risk of type 2 diabetes.

Sedentary adults, defined by low levels of physical activity, are particularly vulnerable to the metabolic effects

of excessive sugar consumption (Silva et al., 2024; Wang et al., 2024). Physical inactivity can impair glucose

metabolism and insulin sensitivity, potentially exacerbating the glycemic impact of high-sugar diets (Babalola

et al., 2024; Basak & Laskar, 2024). In this context, understanding how regular consumption of sugar-

sweetened beverages affects blood glucose levels in sedentary individuals is crucial for developing targeted

dietary recommendations and interventions.

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF RESEARCH AND SCIENTIFIC INNOVATION (IJRSI)

ISSN No. 2321-2705 | DOI: 10.51244/IJRSI |Volume XII Issue VIII August 2025

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Despite the widespread availability and consumption of SSB, there is a paucity of research specifically

The primary objectives of this research are twofold:

 To investigate the immediate impact of a 60cl bottle of regular SSB on fasting blood glucose levels in

healthy individuals.

 To assess how moderate-intensity exercise, following the consumption of regular SSB, influences post-

exercise blood glucose levels.

This study employed a randomized controlled trial design to investigate the immediate effects of a 60cl bottle

of regular SSB on the blood glucose levels of healthy individuals. The randomized design aimed to minimize

bias and confounding variables, ensuring the robustness of the study findings (Mansournia et al., 2021).

The participants in this study comprised 20 healthy undergraduate students from Obafemi Awolowo

(BGT2) and 75 minutes after consumption (BGT3). After the BGT3, the participants in the experimental group

engaged in a moderate-intensity exercise session of 45 minutes brisk walking. The post-exercise blood glucose

level was measured 15 minutes after exercise. Participants in the control group did not engage in the 45

minutes of brisk walking. The participants in the control group were made to sit in the laboratory during the

45-minute period of the exercise. The blood glucose level of the participants in the control group was also

measured 60 minutes after BGT3.

Data analysis was conducted using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) software, version 27.

Descriptive statistics, including mean and standard deviation, were calculated for demographic variables and

blood glucose levels. A paired t-test was used to assess within-group differences, comparing pre- and post-

intervention blood glucose levels. An independent t-test was employed to examine differences between the

Table 1: Participant Characteristics and Blood Glucose Levels (mg/dl)

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF RESEARCH AND SCIENTIFIC INNOVATION (IJRSI)

ISSN No. 2321-2705 | DOI: 10.51244/IJRSI |Volume XII Issue VIII August 2025

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Source: Author’s analysis, 2025

FBG- Fasting Blood Glucose PEBG- Post Exercise Blood Glucose. MG/DL- Milligram Per Deciliter

Table 1 presents the demographic and physiological characteristics, as well as the blood glucose profiles of

89.4 ± 6.74 mg/dl for the control group, indicating comparable baseline glucose levels. However, after

exercise, the post-exercise blood glucose (PEBG) level in the experimental group was 93.7 ± 20.69 mg/dl,

which was lower than the control group’s PEBG of 102.5 ± 6.93 mg/dl.

Table 2: Blood Glucose Levels at Time Points (mg/dl)

Source: Author’s analysis, 2025

131.7 ± 26.6 mg/dl at BGT3 (75 minutes after TOC). In contrast, the control group recorded a lower mean

glucose level at each corresponding time point. At BGT1, the mean was 116 ± 13.1 mg/dl, which rose to

126.1 ± 13.9 mg/dl at BGT2 and then declined to 119.9 ± 12.3 mg/dl at BGT3.

Overall, the experimental group exhibited higher blood glucose levels at all time points compared to the

control group, with the most notable difference observed at BGT2. These results suggest a more pronounced

glycemic response in the experimental group, potentially influenced by the timing and nature of physical

activity relative to glucose intake.

Table 3: t-test comparison of Fasting and Post-Exercise Blood Glucose Levels

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF RESEARCH AND SCIENTIFIC INNOVATION (IJRSI)

ISSN No. 2321-2705 | DOI: 10.51244/IJRSI |Volume XII Issue VIII August 2025

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Table 3 summarizes the results of independent and paired sample t-tests comparing fasting blood glucose

(FBG) and post-exercise blood glucose (PEBG) levels within and between the experimental and control

groups. Within the experimental group, the difference between fasting blood glucose (91.6 ± 11.11 mg/dl) and

post-exercise blood glucose (93.7 ± 20.69 mg/dl) was not statistically significant (t = 0.781, p > 0.05). This

suggests that physical exercise may have played a role in stabilizing blood glucose levels, potentially offsetting

the hyperglycemic effect of sugar intake.

In the control group, which did not engage in physical activity, showed a statistically significant increase from

fasting (89.4 ± 6.74 mg/dl) to post-consumption blood glucose (102.5 ± 6.93 mg/dl) (t = 0.000445, p < 0.01),

indicating that the intake of sugar-sweetened beverages led to a notable elevation in blood glucose in the

absence of exercise.

A comparison of post-exercise blood glucose levels between the experimental (93.7 ± 20.69 mg/dl) and control

(102.5 ± 6.93 mg/dl) groups revealed no statistically significant difference (t = 0.229, p > 0.05). While the

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF RESEARCH AND SCIENTIFIC INNOVATION (IJRSI)

ISSN No. 2321-2705 | DOI: 10.51244/IJRSI |Volume XII Issue VIII August 2025

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sugary beverages on glucose regulation, particularly in the context of physical activity. Future studies with