(Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Sprinkling extra salt and sipping diet soda may
seem harmless, but new research links increased sodium and artificially
sweetened soda to kidney disease.
Researchers studied more than 3,000 women and found those who drink at least two
diet sodas daily double their rate of kidney function decline. Sodium also
increased their odds, as demonstrated by test results consistent with previous
experimental animal testing.
"There is currently limited data on the role of diet in kidney disease," Julie
Lin, M.D., of Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, was quoted as saying.
"While more study is needed, our research suggests that higher sodium and
artificially sweetened soda intake are associated with greater rate of decline
in kidney function."
Because most participants were white women, it is unknown whether results can
also be applied to men or additional ethnicities. Results were consistent even
after considering factors of age, caloric intake, obesity, high blood pressure,
diabetes, cigarette smoking, physical activity and cardiovascular disease.
SOURCE: Presented at the American Society of Nephrology’s annual meeting in
San Diego, California, 2009
