More Evidence That Soft Drink Consumption Is Associated with Mortality

Soft drink consumption has been associated not only with weight gain and obesity but also with excess mortality in U.S. studies. In this prospective cohort study from 10 European countries, ≈450,000 participants (mean age, 51) completed questionnaires on dietary and clinical risk factors, including consumption of sugar-sweetened and artificially sweetened soft drinks. Participants with known heart disease, cancer, or diabetes were excluded. Mean follow-up was 16 years.

In adjusted analyses, mortality (mostly from cancer and cardiovascular causes) was 17% higher for participants who consumed 2 or more glasses of soft drinks daily compared with those who consumed less than 1 glass monthly. The mortality association was slightly stronger for ar…