Daily Soda Increases Risk of Type 2 Diabetes

Those who consumed sugar sweetened beverages (SSB) including sweetened-milk beverages and soft drinks had a higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes independent of lifestyle and socio-demographic factors.

For the study, researchers evaluated the beverage consumption of 25,639 UK adults who did not have type 2 diabetes at baseline by accessing 7-day food diaries. The participants were a part of the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition-Norfolk study, which was conducted from 1993 to 1997.
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After a 10.8-year follow-up, researchers found 847 cases of type 2 diabetes.

Using Cox regression analyses, researchers discovered that for every 5% increase in calorie consumption from SSB, there was an 18% rise in diabetes incidence.

The hazard ratios with positive associations for soft drinks, sweetened-milk beverages, and artificially sweetened beverages (ASBs) were 1.21, 1.22, and 1.22 respectively.

Substituting ASBs for any SSBs did not decrease diabetes incidence in the analyses that evaluated energy intake and adiposity. However, substituting 1 serving per day of unsweetened tea or coffee, or water, for sweetened milk beverages or soft drinks yielded a 14% to 25% decrease of diabetes manifestation.

For diabetes prevention, investigators noted that water or unsweetened tea or coffee could be used as appropriate substitutes for SSB.

“In light of the consistency of past evidence, together with the new evidence generated by this work, it is now timely and appropriate to consider population-based interventions to reduce SSB consumption and increase the consumption of suitable alternative beverages,” said the study’s authors.

The complete study is published in the April issue of Diabetologia.

-Michelle Canales Butcher

Reference:

O’Connor L, Imamura F, Lentjes MAH, et al. Prospective associations and populations impact of sweet beverage intake and type 2 diabetes, and effects of substitutions with alternative beverages. Diabetologia. 2015 April [epub ahead of print] doi: 10.1007/s00125-015-3572-1.