Carbonated soft drinks and health impact

Carbonated soft drinks (CSDs) are widely consumed worldwide. Given the high consumption of this beverage, the scientific community has increased its focus on their health impact. The main source of Non-Milk Extrinsic Sugars intake is carbonated soft drinks which account for almost a quarter of NMES in older boys and girls. A switch to low or no sugar soft drinks could have a significant impact, not least on the incidence of dental caries.

Carbonated soft drinks are by far the most popular beverages among young people, with full sugar products consumed by three quarters of the survey sample, though market figures show that juice drinks are gaining significant 'share of throat'.

Carbonated soft drinks are often suspected to cause certain gastrointestinal disorders, consequently, some researchers have hypothesized their involvement in gastrointestinal cancers.

The main component in carbonated-soft drinks is caffeine which triggers the excitation of the reticular system within the brain. Excess excitation of the system leads to insomnia, psychomotor agitation and headaches.

Sugar-sweetened soft drinks are also a prevalent source of readily absorbable sugars and can be associated with an increased risk of obesity and diabetes. Diabetes mellitus and a diet high in glycemic load are both potential risk factors for pancreatic cancer.

Soft drink-induced demineralization of dental enamel has increased sharply over the last decades and is a major cause of tooth decay in the younger age group. During demineralization, calcium and phosphorus are mobilized from the enamel which eventually leads to collapse of the surface structure and loss of outermost layers of the enamel.

Carbonated soft drinks and health impact