Soda is one of the most popular beverages in the United States, constituting one out of every four beverages consumed in the United States, according to the Center for Science in the Public Interest, or CSPI. Several types of soda, in particular colas, contain a chemical known as phosphoric acid, which has been associated with several health conditions including osteoporosis, kidney disease and erosion of tooth enamel. For this reason, the CSPI recommends consuming sodas in moderation.
Phosphorus And Calcium Regulation
Phosphorus is a vital nutrient that plays several key roles within your body. Phosphorus combines with calcium in your body to form calcium phosphate, which is responsible for providing structure and strength to bones and teeth. According to the European Food Safety Authority, EFSA, 85 percent of the phosphorus in your body is retained within your bones. Phosphorus is also responsible for regulating calcium levels in your blood. A high phosphorus intake temporarily impedes the intestinal absorption of calcium. This stimulates the release of parathyroid hormone, which increases calcium levels by promoting its re-absorption as well as sequestering calcium from the bones, leaving them weak and brittle.
Quantity of Phosphoric Acid in Soda
Phosphate is added to many foods and beverages as a preservative as well as for flavor and texture. Phosphate is found as an additive in sodas in the form of phosphoric acid. One 12 fluid oz. can of cola contains approximately 37 mg of phosphorus. The EFSA estimates the average intake of phosphate additives in the United States to be 320 mg a day, which is equivalent to 20 to 30 percent of the recommended daily allowance.
Osteoporosis
The Framington Osteoporosis study, published in 2006 in "The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition," found a reduction in bone-mineral density in the hips of women who consumed one cola beverage a day. These results were demonstrated in cola, but not carbonated non-cola beverages. The intake of phosphorus was not elevated in participants who consumed cola however the ratio of phosphorus to calcium was lower than optimal.
Kidney Disease
Regular consumption of colas may lead to the development of chronic kidney disease, researchers suggest in a study on carbonated beverages. The study, published in the July 2007 issue of "Epidemiology," found that the risk of chronic kidney disease was doubled when participants consumed two or more colas a day. Similar results were not displayed in non-cola soft drinks. The researchers attribute phosphoric acid as a possible source for this finding.
Tooth Erosion
Researchers at the University of Illinois and Southern Illinois propose that carbonated beverages may also contribute to the loss of enamel, the hard outermost layer of your teeth. The study, published in 2007 in "General Dentistry," found that cola products containing phosphoric acid elicited an average enamel loss of 3.65 percent. Diet colas, which tend to be less acidic than regular colas, produced a lesser degree of erosion. The percent of erosion was proportional to the length of exposure to the beverage.
References
- Center for Science in the Public Interest; How Soft Drinks Are Harming American's Health; Michael F. Jacobson; June 2005
- "European Food Safety Authority Journal"; Opinion of Scientific Panel on Dietetic Products, Nutrition and Allergies on a Request from the Commission Related to the Tolerable Upper Intake Level of Phosphorus; European Food and Safety Committee; July 2005
- National Nutrient Database; Carbonated Beverage, Cola, Contains Caffeine; 2010
- "The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition"; Colas, But Not Other Carbonated Beverages, Are Associated with Low Bone Mineral Density in Older Women: The Framington Osteoporosis Study; Katherine L. Tucker, et al.; October 2006
- "Epidemiology"; Carbonated Beverages and Chronic Kidney Disease; Tina M. Saldana, et al.; July 2007
- "General Dentistry"; Commercial Soft Drinks: pH and In Vitro Dissolution of Enamel; Poonam Jain, et al.; March/April 2007
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