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EMBARGOED FOR RELEASE UNTIL 1:00 P.M. (CDT) ON SEPT. 19 COLA SOFT DRINKS MAY CONTRIBUTE TO LOWER BONE MINERAL DENSITY IN WOMEN

Minneapolis (Sept. 19, 2003)—New evidence points to a link between the phosphoric acid content of carbonated cola drinks and lower bone mineral density in women, as reported today by Katherine L. Tucker, Ph.D., at the 25th Annual Meeting of the American Society for Bone and Mineral Research (ASBMR).

Researchers have long believed that phosphoric acid hastens bone loss because it binds calcium. Colas, unlike most other soft drinks, contain phosphoric acid
(44 mg.-62 mg. per 12 ounces of regular cola and 27 mg.-39 mg. per 12 ounces of diet cola). In order to assess the impact of phosphorus on bone mineral density, Dr. Tucker and her team took bone measurements at the spine and three hip sites of 1,672 women and 1,148 men from 1996 to 2001; all participants are part of the Framingham Offspring cohort. Dietary intake was assessed from each participant with a food frequency questionnaire that specifically asked about the number of servings of cola and other carbonated beverages consumed daily, and differentiated between regular, caffeine-free and diet beverages. Each participants’ body weight, height, age, level of physical activity, smoking habits, alcohol use, use of medication for bone, use of calcium or vitamin D supplements, intake of calories, calcium and vitamin D from diet were considered. Women also were surveyed for menopause status and estrogen use.

The researchers found that women (and not men) who drink more than three
12-ounce servings of cola per day were found to have 2.3-5.1 percent lower bone mineral
density in the hip (2.3 percent lower in the trochanter; 3.3 percent lower at the femoral neck; and 5.1 percent lower at Ward’s area) than those who consume less than one serving of cola per day. There was no significant relationship between non-cola carbonated beverage consumption and bone mineral density at any site for men or women.

The study suggests that cola, but not other carbonated soft drinks, contributes to lower bone mineral density in adult women. Because similar results were seen with diet and non-caffeinated cola, these associations may be due to the phosphoric acid content of cola.

For more information on this study, visit www.asbmr.org.

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The ASBMR Annual Meeting is the pre-eminent scientific meeting on bone and mineral metabolism. Approximately 5,000 delegates attend the September 19-23 meeting, where nearly 1,700 scientific abstracts are being presented. The ASBMR is the premier professional, scientific and medical society established to promote excellence in bone and mineral research and to facilitate the translation of that research into clinical practice. The ASBMR has a membership of nearly 4,000 physicians, basic research scientists, and clinical investigators. To learn more about the Society and the field of bone and mineral research, visit the ASBMR website at www.asbmr.org.

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