Latest news with #CARDIA
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Experts Urge Caution as Study Links This Popular Drink to 2x the Risk of Diabetes
Experts Urge Caution as Study Links This Popular Drink to 2x the Risk of Diabetes originally appeared on Parade. There's nothing quite like a crisp diet soda on a hot day. It's cool, bubbly and somehow so refreshing. Add some lime and you've got a summertime treat. You can even make a dirty soda by adding a little cream. Yum! But a new study is shining light on diet soda's health effects, and they might not be as harmless as they seem. A new study has found that consuming artificially sweetened beverages, which are commonly marketed as the 'healthier' alternative to sugary drinks, could significantly increase your risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Researchers collected data on more than 4,654 adults in the 30-year-long Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults (CARDIA) study. They assessed the diets of participants at the start of the study, then again after seven and 20 years. 🎬 SIGN UP for Parade's Daily newsletter to get the latest pop culture news & celebrity interviews delivered right to your inbox 🎬 Researchers discovered that individuals who consumed the highest amounts of artificially sweetened drinks, like diet sodas or sugar-free flavored waters, were more than twice as likely to develop type 2 diabetes than those who rarely drank them. That's a 129% increase in risk, raising serious questions about what we're really sipping on when we go 'sugar-free.'The study adds fuel to the growing debate around artificial sweeteners. Long considered a safer option for those watching their weight or blood sugar, these sugar substitutes may interfere with insulin sensitivity and disrupt gut health, which are two key factors in developing diabetes. While the beverages contain few or no calories, their long-term metabolic effects may not be so benign. Of course, sugary drinks aren't off the hook either. Regular sodas, sweetened teas and energy drinks remain one of the most well-documented contributors to rising diabetes and obesity rates worldwide. Even 100% fruit juices, which many perceive as healthy, can elevate blood sugar when consumed in excess. This new study challenges the widely accepted belief that diet drinks are a safe swap. And while more research is needed to pinpoint exactly how artificial sweeteners may influence insulin response, the evidence so far suggests that moderation—and even reconsideration—is warranted. So, what should you drink instead? Nutrition experts continue to recommend simple, no-frills hydration. Water remains the gold standard, but unsweetened tea and black coffee are also considered safe and beneficial for most people. Infused waters with fruit or herbs can offer a flavorful twist without the potential downsides of sugar or artificial sweeteners. I'm a daily Coke Zero drinker, but after this study, I may be willing to make a change. I do love iced tea!Experts Urge Caution as Study Links This Popular Drink to 2x the Risk of Diabetes first appeared on Parade on Jun 27, 2025 This story was originally reported by Parade on Jun 27, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
People Who Drink This Popular Beverage Have 2x the Risk of Diabetes, Study Finds
There's something about a crisp soda on a hot summer day. If you're on a weight loss journey or trying to cut out sugar, it can be tempting to turn to diet drinks to curb your craving. It makes sense, especially given that high amounts of daily sugar have been linked to weight gain, low energy, and possibly a higher risk of cancer. But as it turns out, diet sodas may not be the better option we originally thought. In fact, they may raise your risk of diabetes in a similar way to regular soda, according to a new study. In the study, researchers looked at the data of more than 4,654 adults from the 30-year-long Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults (CARDIA) study. The participants' diets were assessed at the beginning of the study and then again at the seven and 20-year researchers looked at several factors, but mostly the average intake of diet beverages, and artificial sweeteners like aspartame and sucralose. The researchers then broke the participants up based on the amount of substances they ingested. They then looked at the participants' risk of diabetes. In this case, they defined diabetes as having a fasting glucose level higher than 126 mg/dL, glucose of 200 mg/dL or higher after a glucose tolerance test, an A1C above 6.5 percent, or the use of diabetes medications at follow-up visits. Researchers found that individuals who consumed the most diet beverages had a 129 percent higher risk of diabetes compared to those who drank the least. "Higher intakes of diet beverages and saccharin were associated with an increased risk of incident diabetes," the study authors said. "These findings highlight the need to evaluate the long-term metabolic effects of [artificial sweeteners] on glucose metabolism." People Who Drink This Popular Beverage Have 2x the Risk of Diabetes, Study Finds first appeared on Men's Journal on Jun 26, 2025
Medscape
05-06-2025
- Health
- Medscape
Diet Drinks, Saccharin Tied to Increased Diabetes Risk
ORLANDO, Fla. — Consuming higher amounts of diet drinks and/or saccharin was associated with an elevated risk of developing diabetes, while total artificial sweetener intake, sucralose, and aspartame showed no significant association, according to an analysis of data from the Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults (CARDIA) study. 30-Year Study The current analysis, presented at NUTRITION 2025, the annual meeting of the American Society for Nutrition, included 4654 adults (54.4% women, 50.1% White individuals) enrolled in the CARDIA study, with a mean age of 24.9 years at baseline in 1985-86. Dietary intake was assessed by the CARDIA diet history at year 0, year 7, and year 20. The cumulative average intakes of artificial sweeteners, diet beverages, aspartame, and sucralose were calculated. Diabetes was defined as a fasting glucose ≥ 126 mg/dL, oral glucose tolerance test 2-hour glucose ≥ 200 mg/dL, A1c ≥ 6.5%, or use of diabetes medications at follow-up visits. Associations of incident diabetes across quintiles of artificial sweetener, diet beverage, aspartame, or sucralose intakes through year 30 were assessed with time-dependent multivariable Cox proportional hazard regression models. The models were adjusted for age, sex, race, field center, education, energy intake, physical activity, smoking status, alcohol drinking, diet quality, and family history of diabetes. Over a median follow-up of 30 years, 691 incident diabetes events occurred. Participants in the fifth quintile of diet beverage intake had a significantly higher risk of developing diabetes than those in the first quintile (hazard ratio [HR], 2.29). Positive associations were also observed for intakes of saccharin (HR, 2.10). Adjustment for waist circumference attenuated the associations slightly, but overall, higher intakes of diet beverages and saccharin were associated with an increased risk for incident diabetes. More Work to Do This study represents a 'first pass,' as the team still has more work to do, including a mediation analysis, explained coauthor Lyn Steffen, PhD, professor of Epidemiology and Community Health at the University of Minnesota School of Public Health, Minneapolis. 'These findings highlight the need to evaluate the long-term metabolic effect of artificial sweeteners on glucose metabolism,' the authors noted. A previous CARDIA analysis by Steffen's team suggested that long-term intakes of aspartame, saccharin, or diet soda were related to greater volumes of visceral, intermuscular, and subcutaneous adipose tissue. 'I recommend limiting the use of any sweetener,' Steffen told Medscape Medical News. 'For beverages, I suggest unsweetened water, coffee, tea, milk, or small amount of 100% fruit juice — a small amount meaning limited calories, not 12- or 20-fluid-ounce containers.' CARDIA is supported by the US National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. Steffen declared having no relevant competing interests.
