DRINKING just one fizzy drink a day can increase your risk of deadly kidney disease by a fifth, a study shows.
People who guzzled a glass of drinks like Coke or Fanta daily for 10 years were at greater risk of chronic kidney disease compared to people who didn’t drink any, South Korean researchers found.
They said switching to fruit juices or waters can help lower your chances of developing the condition.
Dr Ga Young Heo, of Yonsei University College of Medicine in Seoul, said: “One serving per day of any sweetened beverages was associated with increased risk of incident chronic kidney disease.
“Substituting with natural juices or water was associated with reduced risk of incident chronic kidney disease.”
Around 7.2million Brits suffer with chronic kidney disease, according to Kidney Care UK.
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Nearly half of these are in the later stages of the disease, when symptoms are likely to become increasingly difficult to manage.
Around 5,000 Brits currently need transplants because they are in this stage.
However the average wait time takes two to three years because not enough kidneys are available, with around 1,100 operations performed a year.
The delay is too long for many patients, with 45,000 Brits dying of chronic kidney disease annually.
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The latest study, published in JAMA Network Open, looked at data from 127,830 Brits to see how drinking sweetened drinks affects people’s risk of the illness.
They were asked how many sugar-sweetened drinks, artificially sweetened drinks and fruit juices they drank and how often.
LONG-TERM RISK
Over an average of 10 years, some 4,459 people developed the condition.
Drinking up to one artificially sweetened drinks increased the risk by 10 per cent, while drinking more than one boosted the risk by 26 per cent.
In contrast, there was no link between regularly drinking fruit juices and the condition, researchers said.
Dr Young Heo said: “Higher consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages or artificially sweetened beverages was associated with higher risk of chronic kidney disease.
“The consumption of natural juices did not increase the risk of chronic kidney disease.
“These results suggest that healthy beverage consumption habits may be important for preventing chronic kidney disease.”
WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF KIDNEY DISEASE?
A number of symptoms can develop if kidney disease is not found early or it gets worse despite treatment.
Symptoms can include:
- weight loss and poor appetite
- swollen ankles, feet or hands – as a result of water retention (oedema)
- shortness of breath
- tiredness
- blood in your pee (urine)
- an increased need to pee – particularly at night
- difficulty sleeping (insomnia)
- itchy skin
- muscle cramps
- feeling sick
- headaches
- erectile dysfunction in men
Source: The NHS
Sarah Carter is a health and wellness expert residing in the UK. With a background in healthcare, she offers evidence-based advice on fitness, nutrition, and mental well-being, promoting healthier living for readers.
