Diet Beverages Could Heighten Risk of Vascular Events

A new study suggests that diet soft drinks may increase the risk for stroke, myocardial infarction (MI), and vascular death.

Researchers at the University of Miami (FL, USA) studied 2,564 participants in the large, multiethnic Northern Manhattan Study (NOMAS), who were asked at the outset to report how much and what kind of beverage they drink. Based on that data, the researchers grouped the participants into seven consumption categories: no soft drink (meaning less than one soft drink of any kind per month); moderate regular soft drink only (between one per month and six per week), daily regular soft drink (at least one per day); moderate diet soft drink only; daily diet soft drink only; and two groups of people who drink both types: moderate diet and any regular, and daily diet with any regular. During an average follow-up of 9.3 years, 559 vascular events occurred, including ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke.

The results showed that when taking into account factors such as age, sex, race or ethnicity, smoking status, exercise, alcohol consumption, and daily caloric intake, people who had a diet soft drink every day experienced a 61% higher risk of vascular events than those who reported drinking no soft drink at all. After accounting for patients' with metabolic syndrome, peripheral vascular disease (PVD), and heart disease history, the increased risk persisted at a rate of 48% higher. The study was presented at the American Stroke Association International Stroke Conference, held during February 2011, in Los Angeles (CA, USA).

"If our results are confirmed with future studies, then it would suggest that diet soft drink may not be the optimal substitute for sugar-sweetened beverages for protection against vascular outcomes,” said lead author and study presenter epidemiologist Hannah Gardener, ScD.

Diet beverages have long been perceived to be the more acceptable form of soft drink. However, there are health concerns for those who consume them regularly, including possible links between diet soda and metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes, kidney problems, and preterm delivery. Young people who substitute diet drinks instead of milk suffer an increased risk of osteoporosis at an earlier age, due to the absence of adequate calcium in their diet. Caffeine in sodas can also be addictive to certain people, and promotes dehydration. There is also a thought that consumption of diet soda stimulates people to crave sugary foods.

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