06/03/2024
06/03/2024

WASHINGTON, March 6, (Agencies): A recent study published in the journal Circulation: Arrhythmia and Electrophysiology suggests that consuming two liters or more of diet soda per week can elevate the risk of developing atrial fibrillation. The research, conducted with approximately 202,000 participants in the United Kingdom aged 37 to 73, found a 20% higher likelihood of atrial fibrillation in individuals who consumed over two liters of artificially sweetened drinks, equivalent to six standard 330ml cans.
Similarly, the study revealed a 10% increased risk of the disease associated with the consumption of beverages containing added sugars. Conversely, individuals who drank unsweetened juices, including orange juice, experienced an 8% reduction in the risk of atrial fibrillation.
Atrial fibrillation is a heart condition characterized by irregular heartbeats, with symptoms such as lightheadedness, extreme fatigue, shortness of breath, and chest pain. It is also the leading cause of strokes in the United States, as highlighted by the Centers for Disease Control.
While the study suggests a correlation between diet soda consumption and atrial fibrillation, a 2017 study revealed a 22% risk of inheriting the condition among individuals with European ancestry.
Dr. Ningjian Wang, the lead study author and a professor at the Shanghai Ninth People’s Hospital and Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, emphasized the complexity of diets and cautioned against concluding that one beverage poses a higher health risk than another. Nonetheless, he recommended reducing or avoiding artificially sweetened and sugar-sweetened beverages whenever possible, challenging the assumption that low-sugar and low-calorie drinks are inherently healthy.
Penny Kris-Etherton, a professor emeritus of nutritional sciences at Pennsylvania State University, highlighted that this study is the first to associate no- and low-calorie sweeteners and sugar-sweetened beverages with an increased risk of atrial fibrillation. She stressed the need for further research to confirm these findings and fully comprehend the health consequences on heart disease and other conditions. Emphasizing water as the best choice, she recommended limiting or avoiding no- and low-calorie sweetened beverages based on the study's insights.