According to a new US study, excessive consumption of low-fat soft drinks is associated with an increased risk of depression. However, the study does not say whether the drink is directly responsible for this increase.
If drinking soda low-fat is better for the line that consuming classic drinks, this could be much worse for morale. A study to be presented in March at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Neurology suggests that there is indeed a link between the consumption of diet drinks and an increased risk of depression. An association that would be valid for sodas lightened as for fruit juices.
In reaching this conclusion, the American researchers, author of the work, analyzed the data of some 263,900
Americans aged 50 to 71 who were interviewed in 1995 and 1996 on their beverage consumption. About 10 years later (2004 to 2006), the same subjects are seen again questioning. This time, he was asked if a doctor had already diagnosed depression in the 2000s comparing the response to this question, and the oldest data, the researchers found that people who regularly drank soda (four or more per day) were on average 30% more likely to suffer from depression.
But the risk was especially pronounced among soda drinkers lightened: they showed a risk of 31% against 22% among drinkers of classic sodas.The finding was the same with the juice, those who consumed lighter forms presented a risk of 51% compared to those who do not drink. By comparison, people who drank four or more cups of coffee a day had 10% less chance of being diagnosed with depression.
A link whose origin remains to be determined
However, the study could that establishing a link between consumption and an increased risk of depression, without determining whether low-fat soft drinks were responsible for this increase. If the researchers took into account many factors that may affect results (age, education, smoking, physical activity, etc.), they do not exclude that other circumstances have also been able to influence such a stressful life or a risk high depression in the family.
Still, this is not the first time such a link is established because previous research had also demonstrated such a link.So scientists have much to extend their research to learn more and determine the origin of such a discovery association. “More studies are needed to confirm these findings and those with depression should continue to take medication as prescribed by their physicians,” says Dr. Honglei Chen of the National Institutes of Health who led the study.
Source Maxisciences