Soft Drinks, Hard Facts
According to the World Health Organisation, 63% of Irish children consume one
can of soft drink every 24 hours. Irish
children consume a lot of soft drinks [1], and this is borne
out by our own surveys in National and post-primary schools in Co. Clare.
Most people view soft drink consumption as fairly innocuous.
However, there are a number of serious health issues associated with
regular consumption of soft drinks. One
peer-reviewed study has reported 25 separate harmful effects associated with the
consumption of carbonated soft drinks [2]. It
appears that soft drink consumption is not as harmless as generally believed,
and the level of soft drink consumption amongst Irish children is a cause for
concern. We have presented some of
the harmful effects of soft drink consumption below.
Bone Health
The development of bone
mass during adolescence is important for life-long bone health, particularly in
girls [3], with nearly 40% of peak bone mass being laid down during adolescence.
Numerous scientific studies have found that regular soft drink
consumption has a deleterious effect upon bone health.
It has been reported that
girls in
Northern Ireland
regularly drinking carbonated soft drinks (cola, non-cola and diet carbonated
soft drinks) had reduced bone mineral density [1].
Cola intake has been associated with increased risk of bone fracture in
children [4], and bone mineralisation in adolescent girls is affected by soft
drink consumption [3]. Consumption
of cola drinks reduces femoral mineral density in rats [5], and human studies
show that regular moderate consumption of soft drinks (1.5 litres per week) is
associated with hypocalcaemia (reduced levels of calcium) [6].
Regular consumption of carbonated soft drinks, particularly in adolescent
girls, may lead to osteoporosis in later life [7].
Obesity and Type II Diabetes
Consumption of soft drinks
containing sugar has been linked to weight gain and an increased risk for
development of type 2 diabetes, possibly due to caloric imbalance along with the
provision of large amounts of rapidly absorbable sugars [8].
There is a probable link between the consumption of sugar-sweetened soft
drinks and excess weight gain/obesity [9]. It
has been suggested that the over consumption of high fructose corn syrup in soft
drinks may contribute to obesity [10], and that rising soft drink consumption
may have contributed significantly to the epidemic of childhood obesity in the
United States [11].
Other Health Issues
It has been reported that
the consumption of cola drinks is a risk factor for the formation of kidney
stones [12, 13].
Consuming
carbonated soft drinks is strongly correlated with dental erosion/ caries
[14-16]. One study reported that
drinking Coca-Cola more than three times a week increased the risk of dental
erosion threefold [15].
Summary of the Scientific Evidence
There is compelling
evidence that regular consumption of soft drinks leads to:
Summary
We
contend that soft drink consumption is problematic amongst children in
Ireland and the UK. We feel that children, teachers
and parents need to be made more aware of this issue, and we also feel that
there should be limits placed on the supply of soft drinks in schools, leisure
centres and other public buildings. Reduced
consumption of soft drinks will be beneficial for our children’s long term
health and will help with behavioural difficulties.
References
1.
McGartland, C., et al., Carbonated
soft drink consumption and bone mineral density in adolescence: the
Northern Ireland
Young Hearts project. J Bone Miner Res, 2003. 18(9):
p. 1563-9.
2.
Amato, D., et al., [Soft-drinks and
health]. Rev Invest Clin, 1997. 49(5):
p. 387-95.
3.
Whiting, S.J., et al., Factors that
affect bone mineral accrual in the adolescent growth spurt. J Nutr, 2004. 134(3): p. 696S-700S.
4.
Ma, D. and G. Jones, Soft drink and
milk consumption, physical activity, bone mass, and upper limb fractures in
children: a population-based case-control study. Calcif Tissue Int, 2004. 75(4): p. 286-91.
5.
Garcia-Contreras, F., et al., Cola
beverage consumption induces bone mineralization reduction in ovariectomized
rats. Arch Med Res, 2000. 31(4):
p. 360-5.
6.
Mazariegos-Ramos, E., et al., Consumption
of soft drinks with phosphoric acid as a risk factor for the development of
hypocalcemia in children: a case-control study. J Pediatr, 1995. 126(6): p. 940-2.
7.
Wyshak, G. and R.E. Frisch, Carbonated
beverages, dietary calcium, the dietary calcium/phosphorus ratio, and bone
fractures in girls and boys. J Adolesc Health, 1994. 15(3):
p. 210-5.
8.
Schulze, M.B., et al., Sugar-sweetened
beverages, weight gain, and incidence of type 2 diabetes in young and
middle-aged women. Jama, 2004. 292(8):
p. 927-34.
9.
Swinburn, B.A., et al., Diet,
nutrition and the prevention of excess weight gain and obesity. Public
Health Nutr, 2004. 7(1A): p. 123-46.
10. Bray,
G.A., S.J. Nielsen, and B.M. Popkin, Consumption
of high-fructose corn syrup in beverages may play a role in the epidemic of
obesity. Am J Clin Nutr, 2004. 79(4):
p. 537-43.
11. St-Onge,
M.P., K.L. Keller, and S.B. Heymsfield, Changes
in childhood food consumption patterns: a cause for concern in light of
increasing body weights. Am J Clin Nutr, 2003. 78(6):
p. 1068-73.
12. Rodgers,
A., Effect of cola consumption on urinary
biochemical and physicochemical risk factors associated with calcium oxalate
urolithiasis. Urol Res, 1999. 27(1):
p. 77-81.
13. Weiss,
G.H., P.M. Sluss, and C.A. Linke, Changes
in urinary magnesium, citrate, and oxalate levels due to cola consumption.
Urology, 1992. 39(4): p. 331-3.
14. Al-Dlaigan,
Y.H., L. Shaw, and A. Smith, Dental
erosion in a group of British 14-year-old school children. Part II: Influence of
dietary intake. Br Dent J, 2001. 190(5):
p. 258-61.
15. Jensdottir,
T., et al., Relationship between dental
erosion, soft drink consumption, and gastroesophageal reflux among Icelanders.
Clin Oral Investig, 2004. 8(2): p.
91-6.
16. Shenkin,
J.D., et al., Soft drink consumption and
caries risk in children and adolescents. Gen Dent, 2003. 51(1): p. 30-6.
17. White,
A.A., S. Nitzke, and K.E. Peterson, Are
soft drinks getting a bum rap? We don't think so. J Nutr Educ Behav, 2004. 36(5):
p. 266-71.
18. Murray,
R.D., Soft drinks in schools.
Pediatrics, 2004. 113(1 Pt 1): p.
152-4.
