1 Daily Soda May Boost Heart Disease
Researchers Point Finger at Diet, Regular Sodas; Industry Officials Disagree
WebMD News Archive
Explaining the Soda-Heart Disease Link continued...
The findings don’t surprise Paul Lachance, PhD, acting director of The
Nutraceuticals Institute at Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, and a
diet and health expert for the Institute of Food Technologists. “It’s
plausible,” he says of the link between soda intake and increased risk of
But he wonders about the true root of the association. It may not be the
soda intake itself leading to the increased risk, he says. “People who
drink sodas may be giving up drinking healthier beverages,” he says, such as
juices, milk, wine, and other beverages.
Soda Industry Strikes Back
In a prepared statement, the soft drink industry took issue with the
findings. "Blaming one food, beverage, or ingredient as the cause for
myriad health problems defies common sense and doesn't agree with the current
body of nutritional science," says Susan K. Neely, president and chief
executive officer of the American Beverage Association.
The Washington, D.C.-based industry group represents many companies that
make and distribute nonalcoholic beverages in the U.S.
"Metabolic syndrome and heart disease are complex problems that have no
single cause and no single solution," the statement continues. Soft
drinks can be part of a healthy way of life "when consumed in moderation
and as part of a balanced lifestyle," it states.
“We’re underscoring the point the researchers make that it’s an association,
not causal,” Neely tells WebMD. “The association found between diet soda and
metabolic syndrome is particularly implausible. Diet soda is a beverage with
zero calories, and it is 99% water.”
Diet Soda "a Good Option"
In a prepared statement issued Monday, the American Heart Association
(AHA) also notes that the study does not prove cause and effect.
More study is needed on sodas before formal recommendations can be made,
according to the AHA. Until then, the association views diet soda as “a good
option to replace caloric beverages that do not contain important vitamins and
minerals.” Diet soda, along with water and fat-free or low-fat milk, are better
choices than full calorie soft drinks, according to the AHA.