carbonation in canned soda has been cited as detrimental to bones

[Guest guest]

>Today's Question

> Confused about Carbonation?

>The carbonation in canned soda has been cited as detrimental to bone

>health. Does the natural carbonation in waters such as Perrier also

>pose a risk for bones?

>-- Linda Hicks

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>www.drweil.com

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> (Published 01/02/2003)

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>I can give you a number of reasons to avoid drinking colas and other

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>sodas but the carbonation they contain is not one of them. The notion

>that the carbonation in sodas is bad for bones comes from studies

>performed in the early 1990s which suggested that drinking carbonated

>beverages, specifically colas, raises the risk of bone fractures among

>adolescent girls and older women (former college athletes). No such

>association was found for non-cola drinks. The researchers also found

>that a high intake of calcium was protective.

>More recently, results of a study published in the American Journal of

>Clinical Nutrition looked at the question of whether carbonated

>beverages increase urinary excretion of calcium. If so, this effect

>might provide a plausible link between consumption of carbonated

>beverages and an increased risk of fractures.

>The researchers, (from the Osteoporosis Research Center at Creighton

>University), found that excess urinary excretion of calcium occurred

>only when the carbonated beverages consumed contained caffeine. At

>least one earlier study had suggested that caffeine consumption can

>have a deleterious effect on bone health if not counteracted by

>sufficient calcium. The Creighton researchers found that the caffeine

>effect they say was balanced by less excretion of calcium later in the

>day so that the net result was only a negligible loss of calcium. This

>led them to conclude that any effect on bone associated with carbonated

>drinks would stem from lowered calcium intake due to displacement of

>milk as a beverage. Incidentally, this study was sponsored by the dairy

>industry, which would have had an interest in the opposite result.

>I wouldn't worry about the carbonation in sodas. My concerns about

>consumption of soft drinks focus more on the unhealthy amounts of

>sugar, artificial sweeteners and caffeine they contain. The carbonation

>itself is not a problem, and Perrier and other carbonated mineral

>waters are perfectly safe.

>Dr. Andrew Weil

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