Diet Soda, Stroke Risk

For many people who have problems with weight and trying to do a diet, trying to choose the appropriate food intake with the diet program. One of them, who likes to drink soda, diet soda would choose. But there are less encouraging news for fans of diet soda, the drink was not a healthier alternative as expected. A recent study showed that diet sodas increase the risk for stroke, myocardial infarction, and death due to vascular disorders. "People who drink diet soda per day had 61% higher risk of vascular events than those who reported not drinking soda," said Chairman of the research team, Hannah Gardener, ScD, an epidemiologist from the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine in Florida, told reporters attending a press conference at the International Stroke Conference.

The risk persists after control for metabolic syndrome, peripheral vascular disease, and a history of heart disease (relative risk, 1.48; 95% confidence interval, 1.03 to 2.12). "This is a preliminary report of this association," a spokesman for the American Stroke Association, Larry Goldstein, MD. "I think it would be nice if done in moderation kalayak to see and consider this information in the context of risk factors other .."

The researchers examined 2,500 people who participated in the multiethnic study in Northern Manhattan. Participants were asked to report how many and what kind of soda they drink.

After a follow-up for approximately 9.3 years, there were 559 cases of vascular disorders, including ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke.

The researchers also observed a significant slightly increased risk for vascular disorders among those who consume diet sodas every day and drink a soda once or more a month (adjusted relative risk, 1.74; 95% confidence interval, 0.96 to 3.16) .

As reported by the Medscape Medical News, the previous studies have revealed an association between diet soda consumption and the risk of developing metabolic syndrome and diabetes. But this is the first diet drinks have been linked to vascular disorders. "This is an observational study and not a prospective randomized trial," said Dr. Goldstein, of the Duke Stroke Center, in Durham, North Carolina, explains. "This is only an association and have not proven a causal relationship."

The researchers acknowledge that further research needs to be done. Potential mechanism to determine the relationship between diet soda and vascular events remain unsolved.

What should the doctor advised his patient based on the information we have today? Steven Greenberg, MD, of Harvard Medical School in Boston, Massachusetts, suggested that the patient begin a healthy diet and regular exercise. "When the metabolic syndrome and diabetes risk has been resolved, then we need to consider reducing the consumption of soda." Dr.Greenberg is vice chairman of the Committee of the International Stroke Conference, and during the interview he suggested that the patient does not need to rush to eliminate the diet drinks.

"I think this is a warning sign," he said, "and we need seriously."

The research was funded by the Javits award from the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke and the Evelyn McKnight Brain Institute.