Diet-Soda-Vasc-Events

Diet Soda May Heighten Risk for Vascular Events

Summarized From the American Stroke Association International Stroke Conference. Abstract # P55. News conference February 9, 2011.

Diet soda may not be a healthier alternative to standard soft-drinks. A new study suggests that the popular drinks may increase the risk for stroke, myocardial infarction, and vascular death.

Lead investigator Hannah Gardener, ScD, an epidemiologist at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine in Florida notes that among those with a daily intake of diet soda there was a 61 percent greater risk of vascular events than among those who reported drinking no soda. The risk persisted after controlling for metabolic syndrome, peripheral vascular disease, and cardiac disease history.

The researchers studied more than 2,500 people from the multi-ethnic Northern Manhattan Study. Participants were asked to report how much and what kind of soda they drank. During an average follow-up of 9.3 years, 559 vascular events occurred, including ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke. The researchers also observed a marginally significant increased risk for vascular events among those who consumed diet soda daily and regular soda once or more a month, adjusted relative risk.

Previous studies have suggested a link between diet soda consumption and the risk for metabolic syndrome and diabetes. But this is the first time diet drinks have been associated with vascular events. Note that the study results outlined here are from an observational study and not a prospective randomized trial, so the results suggest an association but a causal relationship has not yet been proven. The investigators acknowledge that additional studies are needed. The potential mechanisms for the association between diet soda and vascular events remain unknown.

For persons needing to reduce their sugar intake for health reasons, diet sodas are considered an alternative to high sugar beverages. It is important for these individuals to control their sugar intake and diet sodas can be one part of that effort. But this should be coupled with a healthy diet and regular exercise. Once the metabolic syndrome is managed, such persons should continue to build on those efforts by moderating reliance on diet sodas.