Cola activates Osteoporosis in women

Women who drink too much of cola might end up with fractured bones, warned researchers.

A new study reveals that the relation between the quantities of cola consumed by females and the chances of them having brittle bones were directly proportionate, i.e. more of the fizzy drinks consumed, higher were the chances of weaker bones.

The study conducted at the U.S. Department of Agriculture Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts University, Boston, highlighted that drinking cola (normal, diet or decaffeinated) lowers bone density in women, thus increasing risk for osteoporosis.

According to figures of the National Osteoporosis Foundation, about 55 percent of Americans are at risk to develop the brittle-bone disease.

The Framingham Osteoporosis Study was based on the sample base of 2,500 men and women, aged around 60.

Before the start of the study, the researchers took down data for the bone mineral density at the spine and three different parts of the hip of the participants.

Measured as a small bottle or a glass, men were served with five drinks a week while women had four drinks a week.

On completion of the study, researchers discovered that women who drank more cola had reduced bone mineral density at all three hip sites but not at the spine. However, no real effect was seen in men who consumed cola.

Moreover, females who consumed cola on daily bases reported 5 percent lower bone mineral density than women who rarely had cola.

Dr Katherine Tucker of Tufts University, lead researcher of the study made clear, “The more cola that women drank the lower their bone mineral density was.”

The study stated that relationship between cola consumption and women's bone loss were unaffected by age, menopausal status, cigarettes, alcohol, or total calcium and vitamin D intake.

Though the causative agent of Osteoporosis in women is still not known, researchers believe that the phosphoric content in the fizzy drinks leads to such brittle bones. The phosphoric acid excretes the calcium from the body.

According to analyses, one can of cola contains about 44 to 62 mg of phosphoric acid per 12 ounce serving, while diet cola holds about 27 to 39 mg.

Interestingly no association was found between bone mineral density loss and carbonated beverages that were not colas.