Diet Soda, Sodium Tied to Kidney Trouble: Studies

[steven johnson]

Here is a disquieting report about the risk of drinking more than two diet sodas per day and it's potentially harmful effects on the kidneys.

A diet high in salt or artificially sweetened drinks increases the risk of kidney function decline, two studies show.

"There are currently limited data on the role of diet in kidney disease," researcher Dr. Julie Lin, of Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, said in a news release. "While more study is needed, our research suggests that higher sodium and artificially sweetened soda intake are associated with greater rate of decline in kidney function."

The first study looked at diet and kidney function decline in more than 3,000 women enrolled in the national Nurses' Health Study. The researchers found that "in women with well-preserved kidney function, higher dietary sodium intake was associated with greater kidney function decline, which is consistent with experimental animal data that high sodium intake promotes progressive kidney disease."

The second study looked at the association between sugar- and artificially-sweetened beverages and kidney function decline in the same group of women. The researchers found an association between two or more servings per day of artificially sweetened soda and a two-fold increased risk of faster kidney function decline. There was no connection between sugar-sweetened beverages and kidney function decline

Diet Soda, Sodium Tied to Kidney Trouble Studies

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1. All artificial sweeteners or just some?

[still_one]

2. link doesn't seem to work /nt

[steven johnson]

4. I think I fixed it. I'm getting used to a new computer & browser -- thanks for the feedback NT

[Ozymanithrax]

3. A serving is 8 ounces, not the 12, 16, 20, or 33 ounce bottles and can's we buy.

So, eveyr can is 1.5 servings, and bottles 2 to 4 servings each.

[ginnyinWI]

5. clearly,more study is needed.

We need to know if it is all sugar free soda or just the stuff containing aspartame (which I won't touch, by the way). By far the most brands out there are made with aspartame (Nutraweet). There are a few made with Splenda: Pepsi One, Diet Rite cola and other Diet Rite products, and some of the Seven-up out there.

We need to know if it is only soda or if it is any artificially sweetened food or beverage (I like my sucralose sweetened Swiss Miss, but no more than 4 or so a week).

It makes sense that more salt would be bad for the kidneys--no argument there. It also can raise blood pressure which is also bad for the kidneys.

[BrklynLiberal]

6. And what about the effect on men???

My son drinks way too much diet soda...I cannot convince him to stop....

[lupinella]

7. AAAaaarrrgghhh!!!

Okay, I'm a pretty healthy person. I drink lots of water, eat right, exercise, don't smoke, rarely drink and no longer do illegal drugs.
I am, however, a massive Diet Dr. Pepper/Diet Coke addict.
I don't want to be, but it is the hardest thing I've ever tried to give up. My mother's idea of a good breakfast always included Diet Coke. I was an addict to caffeine in utero; my mother never stopped drinking coffee while she was pregnant with me. According to her, my first steps were literally a result of my addiction - I walked over to her coffee cup and chugged it.
While I have lowered my intake somewhat in recent years, I know I am still a full-blown addict. My bedside table is a mini-fridge filled with Diet Dr. Pepper. Until this year I was so bad that I would awaken in the night to drink a soda so I could go back to sleep. It is unbelievably frustrating.
Any suggestions? I really want to kick this, but I can't go cold turkey; the headaches are amazing. Does anyone know how long it takes to get caffeine out of your system? Ideas and help will be appreciated.
Sincerely,
Your rather anxious fellow DUer.

:hangover:

[snagglepuss]

8. I know where your coming from. I used to drink a alot of diet coke though

nothing close to the amout you drink. Actaully someone at DU did a lengthy post about Rumsfeld being the one time lobbyist for Aspartame and how he got he shoved through despite FDA findings. That helped me quit though it is hard. I had to go cold turkey b/c if I drank any I was got the craving back, one thing that helped was giving up fast food like burgers. That did help. I also switched to juice but that was a BIG MISTAKE b/c big juice really packs on the pounds. Now I drink non-fat milk, water and coffee.

[ginnyinWI]

9. this will be relatively easy to solve.

Between coffee and soda, coffee is much better for your health. They are saying now that it actually prevents some diseases like cancer, gall bladder disease, etc. At the very least, it is not as dangerous as they used to think. The latest I heard, it is not bad for the heart and does not contribute to heart disease like they used to think.

I rarely drink soda now, but I still do drink a 6-8 cup pot of good, French Roast coffee all by myself every day. That's 3-4 mugs. As long as I stop by 4 p.m. it doesn't interfere with sleep. Some of the time I make it half-caff. I'd say keep the coffee and ditch the soda. In hot weather you can drink iced tea, iced coffee, lemonade, fruit juice, or just ice water. And just think of the money you will save not buying all that soda!