Drinking sugary soda is linked to kidney disease, most likely due to the high fructose corn syrup that sweetens the drinks.
People who drink two or more soda drinks per day increase their risk of kidney damage that could lead to kidney disease. The strongest risk was associated with lower weight women and with drinking non-cola sodas.
The potential cause of the association is high fructose corn syrup (HFCS). A link between HFCS and kidney disease is of interest among health officers and nutritionists. Kidney disease - along with diabetes and obesity - has been increasing in the US since manufacturers switched to HFCS as a soft drink sweetener more than three decades ago.
A severely diseased kidney quits working and fails to remove wastes from the blood, concentrate urine and regulate electrolytes.
The authors' suggest "additional studies are needed to assess whether HFCS itself, overall excess intake of sugar, or unmeasured lifestyle and confounding factors are responsible."