Diet sodas are artificially sweetened and come with zero calories. They are often promoted as healthier alternatives to regular sodas, especially for people with type 2 diabetes who need to watch their sugar intake. But studies have pointed to certain health risks associated with frequent consumption of diet soda, including weight gain, metabolic syndrome and stroke, all of which are associated with type 2 diabetes.
Diet Soda and Weight Gain
According to a review article by National Institute of Diabetes, Digestive and Kidney Diseases, which appeared in the October 2010 issue of the "International Journal of Pediatric Obesity," use of artificial sweeteners such as as those found in diet sodas is associated with more weight gain in adults. But it is not known whether artificial sweetener triggers overeating and causes weight gain directly, according to a review by Duke University.
Diet Soda and Metabolic Syndrome
Metabolic syndrome is a cluster of symptoms that includes increased waist circumference, blood pressure, blood fats and blood sugar. Having metabolic syndrome significantly increases the risk of diabetes and cardiovascular disease. A study published in "Diabetic Care" in April 2009 found that participants who drink at least one serving of diet soda a day have a 36 percent increased risk of metabolic syndrome over the non-drinkers. The study also reported a 67 percent increased risk of type 2 diabetes in people who drink diet soda daily.
Diet Soda and Stroke
The risk of stroke is two to four times higher in diabetics, according to CDC statistics. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Service cites a study conducted in the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, which found a 61 percent increased risk of stroke in people who drink diet soda daily compared with those who drink no soda. Even after adjusted for cardiovascular disease and metabolic syndrome, daily diet soda intake still poses 48 percent greater risk for stroke.
Bottom Line
Dr. Patrick Lyden at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles advises against drinking diet soda on a daily basis. If you have diabetes or are at risk of developing diabetes, drink diet soda in moderation. Keep in mind that although diet sodas have no calories, they also have few or no nutrients. The artificial sweeteners in diet soda do not register in the brain in the same way as sugar and are not as satisfying, according to a CNN health report. This may make people crave more and increase their risk of addiction.
References
- DukeHealth.org: The Sweet 'N Low-Down on Artificial Sweeteners; March 2011
- CNN: Can You Get Hooked on Diet Soda; March 2011
- HealthFinder.gov: Can Diet Soda Boost Your Stroke Risk; February 2011
- "Diabetes Care"; Diet Soda Intake and Risk of Incident Metabolic Syndrome and Type 2 Diabetes in the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA); April 2009
- "International Journal of Pediatric Obesity"; Artificial Sweeteners: A Systematic Review of Metabolic Effects in Youth; August 2010
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; National Diabetes Fact Sheet; January 2007
