A Diet Soda a Day May Give You a Heart Attack

Written By Jill Ettinger

Bad news for diet soda drinkers, according to a study published in the most recent issue of the Journal of General Internal Medicine. The study results found that drinking diet soda daily significantly increases the risk of developing a stroke, heart attack and other serious vascular issues.

Conducted by the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine and Columbia University Medical Center, the study, titled "Diet Soft Drink Consumption is Associated with an Increased Risk of Vascular Events in the Northern Manhattan Study," observed the soda habits of more than 2,500 individuals over a 10-year period. According to the research, people who drank diet soda on a daily basis were 43 percent more likely to suffer a stroke or heart attack than those who didn't drink any diet soda, even if pre-existing vascular conditions existed. And those who drank less than than one diet soda per day were also less likely to be at risk of having a stroke or heart attack than those who consumed at least one a day.

The specific causal factor in diet soda's connection to heart attacks and stroke was not clear, despite the correlation, according to study authors. In a statement, researcher Hannah Gardener said, "Results suggest a potential association between daily diet soft drink consumption and vascular outcomes. However, the mechanisms by which soft drinks may affect vascular events are unclear."

Artificial sweeteners such as aspartame and saccharin, which are commonly found in most diet sodas, have long been connected with health issues including tinnitus, headaches, nervous system disorders and certain types of cancer.

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Comments

[Jezzabel]

12:22 PM on 03/16/2012

If the FDA knows the product is bad for humane consumption...why is it still on the shelves in the supermarket...is it me...I don't get it???

[meeks]

11:36 AM on 02/22/2012

Did I miss the part where they looked at the caffeine in the diet soda?

[JulieMPHRD]

11:38 AM on 02/21/2012

The argument that diet soda is to blame for vascular disease holds little water.  Aspartame has been tested more than 200 times, and has been confirmed as safe to consume in moderation.  Similarly, 100 clinical tests of sucralose, a low-calorie sweetener found in food, drinks, chewing gum and Splenda, have not shown any health risks. Artificial sweeteners contain limited to zero calories, and studies have shown that when they are used as substitutes for higher-calorie sweeteners they have the potential to support weight management.  One of the key concepts I often discuss with clients, including individuals and companies like Coke, is how to create energy balance by budgeting calories and exercising regularly. For many of my clients, including diet soda in their plan allows them to maintain a healthy weight while still enjoying their diet.  And we know when people enjoy their diet, they are much more likely to stick with it. 

[hhuff]

07:45 PM on 02/22/2012

I disagree with you especially with the Splenda....Duke did a study on it and its very unhealthy and i personally had some problems until reading the Duke study which caused me to not use anything with Splenda and my problems disappeared. The product is poison.

[gabriel72]

06:21 PM on 02/16/2012

I read about a study once that claimed you could make a flat worm effectively immortal with just two steps. 1. remove its entire reproductive system, and 2. force it to live in a state of constant starvation.