Cola linked to osteoporosis
Study finds women drinking cola regularly have lower bone density
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Friday, 06, Oct 2006 12:27
Women drinking cola regularly may be putting themselves at a greater risk of developing osteoporosis.
Those suffering from the disease have porous or brittle bones that make bone fractures more likely.
Researchers at Tufts University in the US analysed questionnaires and bone mineral density measurements at the spine and three different hip sites of 2,500 people.
Women drinking cola, whether normal, diet or decaffeinated, several times a week were found to have lower bone mineral density at all three hip sites. This was regardless of other factors such as age, menopausal status, total calcium and vitamin D intake and use of cigarettes or alcohol.
However cola was found to have no effect on male bone density and other carbonated drinks did not have the same effect on the women as cola.
Women taking part in the study reported drinking an average of four cola drinks a week. Cola contains phosphoric acid, which, without calcium in the diet, appears to promote bone loss.
"There is no concrete evidence that an occasional cola will harm the bones. However, women concerned about osteoporosis may want to steer away from frequent consumption of cola until further studies are conducted," commented Dr Laura Tucker, director of the epidemiology and dietary assessment programme at Tufts.
The study's authors are calling for "further controlled studies.to determine whether habitual cola drinkers may be adversely affecting their bone health by regularly consuming doses of phosphoric acid that do not contain calcium or another neutralizing ingredient".
According to the National Osteoporosis Society, there are more than 1.4 million postmenopausal women who have been diagnosed with the disease in England and Wales.