According to the novel study, women who drink two or more cans of soda pop per day are nearly twice as likely to develop early kidney disease as those who do not.
Led by David Shoham of Loyola University Health System in Chicago, U.S., the study found an elevated risk of kidney disease specifically for women, and not for men, who drink diet soda.
Shoham and colleagues reached their findings after examining data from a representative sample of 9,358 U.S. adults, ages 20 and older (mean age 45.1), in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). In the survey, researchers collected urine samples from the participants and asked in details about their dietary habits.
In their study, Shoham and colleagues found that women who consumed two cans of soda daily had excess amount of a protein, called albumin, in their urine, a condition known as albuminuria, which is considered as an early indication of kidney disease.
Since healthy kidneys filter out albumin-lie large molecules, an excess amount can be an indication of kidneys impairment, the researchers explain.
Shoham’s team found that surveyed women who reported drinking two or more sodas in the previous 24 hours were 1.86 times more likely to have albuminuria, an early indicator of kidney disease.
They found that 17 percent of those with albuminuria drank two or more cans of fizzy drinks daily.
Although it is unclear why drinking soda elevated the risk only in women, the amount of sugar drunk could be blamed, Shoham said. He also believes that besides excess intake of sugar, the risk could also be due to high fructose corn syrup, the type of sweetener widely used in fizz which contains kidney-harming mercury.
Last month, a study found that commercial high fructose corn syrup is tainted with a considerable amount of mercury, a lethal element that can badly affect the health of people.
But, Shoham said what counts the most is the amount of sugar we consume, not the type.
He said, "I don't think there is anything demonic about high fructose corn syrup per se."
"People are consuming too much sugar. The problem with high fructose corn syrup is that it contributes to over consumption. It's cheap, it has a long shelf life and it allows you to buy a case of soda for less than 10 dollars," he added.
The study authors concluded that more studies are required to determine a clear link between high fructose corn syrup and an elevating risk of early kidney disease.
The latest findings were published in PloS ONE, a peer-reviewed journal of science and medical research published by the Public Library of Science.
Post new comment