Diet soda consumption linked with heightened vascular event risk

Issue: March 2011

International Stroke Conference 2011

Compared with those who did not drink soda, drinkers of diet soda had a nearly 50% increased risk of vascular events, suggested new data.

“[This study] was motivated by previous research that has suggested a relationship between diet and regular soda consumption and the metabolic syndrome which is an important risk factor for vascular events,” said Hannah Gardener, ScD, epidemiologist at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, and lead author of the study, in a press conference, later adding in an interview with CARDIOLOGY TODAY that she and fellow investigators “found a statistically significant increased risked of vascular events including stroke and heart attack among those who drank diet soda daily as compared with those who didn’t drink either diet or regular soda.”

The study included 2,564 individuals from the multi-ethnic Northern Manhattan Study. The researchers examined the relationship between diet and regular soda consumption and risk of combined vascular events including stroke, MI and vascular death. Participants were asked to state how much and what kind of soda they drank and were then grouped into seven categories based on consumption type.

At baseline, those who were more likely to drink diet soda included whites, and those with diabetes, low HDL, elevated BMI, peripheral vascular disease and metabolic syndrome, whereas those who were more likely to drink regular soda included blacks, and those with high calories consumed per day and low HDL.

During a mean follow-up of 9.3 years, researchers reported the occurrence of 559 vascular events, including 212 strokes, 149 MIs and 338 vascular deaths. Overall, individuals who drank diet soda everyday had a 61% higher risk of vascular events than those who did not drink soda. After adjustment for baseline variables, an increased risk of 48% remained.

“[This study] should be viewed as a preliminary study and hopefully it will motivate more studies on this topic, particularly larger studies. We can’t assume that the relationship is causal because it was just an observational study with potential limitations,” said Gardener. “But it does suggest that if it’s confirmed by other studies then perhaps diet soda may not be an optimal substitute for sugar-sweetened beverages.” – by Brian Ellis

For more information:

Gardener H. Abstract P55. Presented at: International Stroke Conference 2011. Feb. 9-11, 2011; Los Angeles.

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