As a dietitian with the Calorie Control Council (www.caloriecontrol.org), I am concerned about the implications of these findings, which are contrary to the scientific literature demonstrating the safety of low-calorie sweeteners and the products that contain them. These findings are not part of a published study and have not been peer-reviewed for a scientific journal. Further the American Heart Association, sponsor of the conference where this poster was presented, states on their web site, “Non-nutritive sweeteners may be a way to satisfy your sweet tooth without adding more calories to your diet. The FDA has determined that non-nutritive sweeteners are safe.” For more information visit: http://www.caloriecontrol.org/pressrelease/study-related-to-diet-soda-and-stroke-risk-is-seriously-flawed.
Calorie Control Council Dietitianof GA3:18PM February 10, 2011
There are many questions that this study raises. The main one to answer is there a single ingredient that may be linked to this problem or is it the combination of ingredients? Hopefully the study minimized the variables by keeping track of the sweetener used (Equal, Splenda, Sweet & Low, etc.), the pH of the soda consumed and the sodium the beverages contained. It would be hard to blame the sodium since diet soda is traditionally a low sodium product.
Another possibility is that the low pH of diet carbonated beverages (they range from 3.0 for Diet Pepsi to 3.4 for Diet Coke) may be involved; however, the pH of sugared soda versions are even lower: 2.4 for Pepsi and 2.5 for Coke Classic. We know that at a pH of 5.5 tooth enamel starts to lose calcium and it would be prudent to examine how a liquid that is 2 pH levels below that point may affect cardiovascular physiology.
Separate studies involving each type of sweetener would be appropriate as well, in addition to examining if the carbonic acid used to make the drink "fizzy" could be involved. And what about the citric acid?
Obviously, there needs to be more studies done. As for me, I tend to view the fizziness as the best place to start in looking for the culprit and I'll be drinking diet iced tea and coffee for MY caffeine until this issue is resolved!!
Doctor Gof FL5:25PM February 09, 2011
This type of psuedo-information -- including the AHA's news release http://www.newsroom.heart.org/index.php?s=43&item=1249 -- does not reveal whether there was any filtering of diet sodas by type of sweetening agent. I drink a brand in Mexico, Penafiel's so-called "Natural" line, sweetened by sucralose (brand name: splenda), rather than the agents common in the most consumed "diet" sodas: aspartame (NutraSweet) or saccharin. If there is an association between sucralose and strokes, I want to know. From this AHA report, there is no way to know.
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Calorie Control Council Dietitian of GA 3:18PM February 10, 2011
Doctor G of FL 5:25PM February 09, 2011
Alan 1:23PM February 09, 2011