Consuming just one can of diet soda a day could increase the risk of developing type 2 diabetes by 38%.
A large-scale Australian study is raising fresh concerns about the safety of artificially sweetened beverages.
Conducted by researchers from Monash University, RMIT University, and the Cancer Council Victoria, the study tracked more than 36,000 Australian adults over nearly 14 years. The findings were recently published in the journal Diabetes & Metabolism.
Surprisingly, the study revealed that the risk posed by diet sodas was even greater than that of sugary soft drinks, which were linked to a 23% increased risk of type 2 diabetes.
"Drinking one or more of these beverages each day, whether sweetened with sugar or artificial substitutes, was linked to a significantly higher chance of developing type 2 diabetes," said PhD student and lead researcher Robel Hussen Kabthymer.
Senior author and Distinguished Professor Barbora de Courten noted that the results challenge a common health assumption. "Artificial sweeteners are often recommended to people at risk of diabetes as a healthier alternative, but our results suggest they may pose their own health risks," she said.
While the increased risk from sugary drinks could be largely explained by obesity, the association between diet drinks and diabetes remained even after adjusting for body weight. This suggests that artificial sweeteners may have a direct impact on metabolism.
"These are often marketed as better for you, yet may carry their own risks," Professor de Courten added. "Future policies should take a broader approach to reducing intake of all non-nutritive beverages."
The research drew on data from the Melbourne Collaborative Cohort Study, also known as Health 2020, which included participants aged 40 to 69. The study took into account factors such as diet, physical activity, education, and health history.