Study Links Diet Soft Drinks to Heart Attack, Stroke

Individuals who drink diet soft drinks on a daily basis may have an increased risk of heart attack, stroke and vascular death, according to a new study published in the Journal of General Medicine. There was no increased risk of vascular events associated with regular soft drinks or moderate diet soft drink consumption.

Researchers at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine and at Columbia University Medical Center analyzed data from 2,564 participants in the National Institute of Health funded Northern Manhattan Study. They assessed diet and regular soft drink consumption using a food frequency questionnaire at baseline. Over a 10-year follow-up and taking into account preexisting vascular conditions such as metabolic syndrome, diabetes and high blood pressure, they found those who drank diet soft drinks daily were 43% more likely to have suffered a vascular event. Moderate diet soft drink users and regular soft drink users were not more likely to suffer vascular events.