'Light' sodas hike diabetes risk: study [View all]

[FarCenter]

Sugar-sweetened sodas have previously been linked with an increased risk of diabetes, but less is known about their artificially-sweetened counterparts.

Researchers led by Francoise Clavel-Chapelon and Guy Fagherazzi dug into the data mine to look at the prevalence of diabetes among women who drank either type of soda, and those who drank only unsweetened fruit juice.

Compared with juice-drinkers, women who drank either of the sodas had a higher incidence of diabetes.

The increased risk was about a third for those who drank up to 359 millilitres (12 US ounces) per week of either type of soda, and more than double among those who drank up to 603 ml (20 ounces) per week.

Drinkers of light sodas had an even higher risk of diabetes compared to those who drank regular ones: 15 percent higher for consumption of 500 ml (16.9 ounces) per week, and 59 percent higher for consumption of 1.5 litres (50 ounces) per week, Inserm said.

There was no increase in diabetes among women who drank only 100-percent fruit juice, compared with non-consumers.

The study noted that women who drank "light" sodas tended to drink more of it -- 2.8 glasses a week on average compared to 1.6 glasses among women on "regular" sodas.

http://www.france24.com/en/20130207-light-sodas-hike-diabetes-risk-study