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Diet Soft Drink Consumption is Associated with an Increased Risk of Vascular Events in the Northern Manhattan Study

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Abstract

BACKGROUND

Diet and regular soft drinks have been associated with diabetes and the metabolic syndrome, and regular soft drinks with coronary heart disease.

OBJECTIVE

To determine the association between soft drinks and combined vascular events, including stroke.

DESIGN

A population-based cohort study of stroke incidence and risk factors.

PARTICANTS

Participants (N = 2564, 36% men, mean age 69 ± 10, 20% white, 23% black, 53% Hispanic) were from the Northern Manhattan Study.

MAIN MEASURES

We assessed diet and regular soft drink consumption using a food frequency questionnaire at baseline, and categorized: none (<1/month, N = 1948 diet, N = 1333 regular), light (1/month-6/week, N = 453 diet, N = 995 regular), daily (≥1/day, N = 163 diet, N = 338 regular). Over a mean follow-up of 10 years, we examined the association between soft drink consumption and 591 incident vascular events (stroke, myocardial infarction, vascular death) using Cox models.

KEY RESULTS

Controlling for age, sex, race/ethnicity, education, smoking, physical activity, alcohol consumption, BMI, daily calories, consumption of protein, carbohydrates, total fat, saturated fat, and sodium, those who drank diet soft drinks daily (vs. none) had an increased risk of vascular events, and this persisted after controlling further for the metabolic syndrome, peripheral vascular disease, diabetes, cardiac disease, hypertension, and hypercholesterolemia (HR = 1.43, 95% CI = 1.06–1.94). There was no increased risk of vascular events associated with regular soft drinks or light diet soft drink consumption.

CONCLUSIONS

Daily diet soft drink consumption was associated with several vascular risk factors and with an increased risk for vascular events. Further research is needed before any conclusions can be made regarding the potential health consequences of diet soft drink consumption.

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Acknowledgements

Funding

This work is supported by a grant from the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (R37 NS 29993).

The data described in this manuscript were presented at the International Stroke Conference in Los Angeles, CA on February 11, 2011.

Conflict of Interest

The authors declare that they do not have a conflict of interest.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Evelyn F. McKnight Brain Institute, Department of Neurology, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Clinical Research Building, 1120 NW 14th St., Miami, FL, 33136, USA

    Hannah Gardener ScD, Tatjana Rundek MD PhD, Matthew Markert MS, Clinton B. Wright MD, MS & Ralph L. Sacco MD, MS

  2. Department of Neurology, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY, USA

    Mitchell S. V. Elkind MD, MS

  3. Department of Epidemiology, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, New York, NY, USA

    Mitchell S. V. Elkind MD, MS

  4. Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA

    Ralph L. Sacco MD, MS

  5. Department of Human Genetics, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA

    Ralph L. Sacco MD, MS

Authors
  1. Hannah Gardener ScD
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  2. Tatjana Rundek MD PhD
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  3. Matthew Markert MS
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  4. Clinton B. Wright MD, MS
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  5. Mitchell S. V. Elkind MD, MS
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  6. Ralph L. Sacco MD, MS
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Hannah Gardener ScD.

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Gardener, H., Rundek, T., Markert, M. et al. Diet Soft Drink Consumption is Associated with an Increased Risk of Vascular Events in the Northern Manhattan Study. J GEN INTERN MED 27, 1120–1126 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11606-011-1968-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11606-011-1968-2

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