Cola Linked To Brittle Bones Risk
Drinking cola could lead to weaker bones, experts have said.
A US study found that drinking just four cans of regular or diet cola a week led to lower bone density in women - a condition which increases the risk of osteoporosis.
Experts from the Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Centre analysed questionnaires and bone mineral density measurements at the spine and three different hip sites of more than 2,500 people aged just under 60.
They found that drinking cola led to lower bone mineral density in women's hips, regardless of age, timing of menopause, total calcium and vitamin D intake, or cigarette use and alcohol intake.
However, drinking cola was not associated with lower bone mineral density in men's hips or the spine for either men or women.
Dr Katherine Tucker and colleagues reported their findings in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.
She said: "The more cola that women drank, the lower their bone mineral density was.
"However, we did not see an association with bone mineral density loss for women who drank carbonated beverages that were not cola."
Men in the study drank an average of five colas a week.
Previous studies have suggested that cola leads to bone mineral density loss because it replaces milk (a source of calcium necessary for healthy bones) in the diet.
But this study related to women whose intake of milk was the same as for women not drinking cola.
Dr Tucker called for further studies to work out if regularly taking in phosphoric acid, found in cola, was to blame.....
She said there was no concrete evidence that an occasional cola harms the bones, but added: "Women concerned about osteoporosis may want to steer away from frequent consumption of cola until further studies are conducted."
A spokeswoman for the National Osteoporosis Society said: "We know that phosphoric acid seems to play a role in bone health and that excessive amounts may lower bone density although there have not been any studies that show exactly why this is.
"What's interesting about this study is that most of the women did seem to be getting a good intake of calcium from other food sources, yet their bone density was affected by drinking as little as four cans of colas a week, which isn't much.
"This study obviously adds to our knowledge but it also makes it clear its results are not definitive and further research is needed."
A spokesman for the British Soft Drinks Association said: "The scientific evidence does not suggest that phosphate, used in the form of phosphoric acid in some carbonated drinks, has a detrimental effect on bone health.
"In any case, soft drinks provide only three per cent of total phosphorus intake from dietary sources, the two main sources being cereals and cereal products, and milk and milk products.
"Consumers can continue to enjoy drinking cola drinks as part of a balanced diet.
"Carbonated drinks can be included within the two litres of fluid everyone should aim to consume each day to stay properly hydrated."
A US study found that drinking just four cans of regular or diet cola a week led to lower bone density in women - a condition which increases the risk of osteoporosis.
Experts from the Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Centre analysed questionnaires and bone mineral density measurements at the spine and three different hip sites of more than 2,500 people aged just under 60.
They found that drinking cola led to lower bone mineral density in women's hips, regardless of age, timing of menopause, total calcium and vitamin D intake, or cigarette use and alcohol intake.
However, drinking cola was not associated with lower bone mineral density in men's hips or the spine for either men or women.
Dr Katherine Tucker and colleagues reported their findings in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.
She said: "The more cola that women drank, the lower their bone mineral density was.
"However, we did not see an association with bone mineral density loss for women who drank carbonated beverages that were not cola."
Men in the study drank an average of five colas a week.
Previous studies have suggested that cola leads to bone mineral density loss because it replaces milk (a source of calcium necessary for healthy bones) in the diet.
But this study related to women whose intake of milk was the same as for women not drinking cola.
Dr Tucker called for further studies to work out if regularly taking in phosphoric acid, found in cola, was to blame.....
She said there was no concrete evidence that an occasional cola harms the bones, but added: "Women concerned about osteoporosis may want to steer away from frequent consumption of cola until further studies are conducted."
A spokeswoman for the National Osteoporosis Society said: "We know that phosphoric acid seems to play a role in bone health and that excessive amounts may lower bone density although there have not been any studies that show exactly why this is.
"What's interesting about this study is that most of the women did seem to be getting a good intake of calcium from other food sources, yet their bone density was affected by drinking as little as four cans of colas a week, which isn't much.
"This study obviously adds to our knowledge but it also makes it clear its results are not definitive and further research is needed."
A spokesman for the British Soft Drinks Association said: "The scientific evidence does not suggest that phosphate, used in the form of phosphoric acid in some carbonated drinks, has a detrimental effect on bone health.
"In any case, soft drinks provide only three per cent of total phosphorus intake from dietary sources, the two main sources being cereals and cereal products, and milk and milk products.
"Consumers can continue to enjoy drinking cola drinks as part of a balanced diet.
"Carbonated drinks can be included within the two litres of fluid everyone should aim to consume each day to stay properly hydrated."
posted by Ammie at 11:16 AM
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