Study: Diet soda associated with significant loss of kidney function

[RightSide]

Diet soda associated with loss of kidney function
   Reported by: Barbara Smith
Last Update: 7/23 7:58 pm

SALT LAKE CITY (ABC 4 News) -Diet soda is popular with thirsty people trying to avoid calories. But a new study shows drinking two or more a day could decrease kidney function.

Diet soda accounts for a quarter of all pop sales. But a Harvard study released at the American Society of Nephrology meeting gives news reason for concern about how much people drink on a daily basis. The study of more than three thousand women found those who drank even a couple a day saw a reduction in kidney function. Dr. Terrence Bjordahl, who practices nephrology at the University of Utah says “it was only associated with two sodas or more, any less than that was not associated with the progression of kidney disease.”

The serving size was either a glass, can, or bottle of diet soda. Of the women in the study, 11.4 percent had a kidney function decline. The decline was 30-percent or more. The study spanned eleven years. Some decline in kidney function is normal as people age. Dr. Bjordahl says “you would expect a five to ten percent decline and this was a thirty percent change in kidney function, so it was fairly dramatic.”

[okarol]

It's always something!

From 2009:

"Drinking Diet Soda May Reduce Risk Of Forming Kidney Stones" http://ihatedialysis.com/forum/index.php?topic=13629.0
"Diet Soda May Affect Kidney Function" http://ihatedialysis.com/forum/index.php?topic=16516.0

[Dianejt]

Frank drank Diet Coke for 20+/- years.

[Zach]

Maybe one particular artificial sweetener is worse than another.

Here's just another poorly researched report to add to the pile of information overload.

[RightSide]

I used to drink gallons of diet soda myself.

[natnnnat]

Gregory drank something like 2 litres of coke a day prior to kidney failure, and now guzzles diet coke.  Since his transplant has lasted this long, maybe thats actually an example of diet coke not harming the kidney?  Mind you, he said the other night he felt "renal".  achey joints, tingling fingers.  My god, what?  If this keeps up I'm ordering private labs.