Coca-Cola, Orangina and other Schweppes, sugary drinks are once again singled out. According to a study conducted by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (CIR) and published on September 3 by the journal JAMA Internal Medicine, drinking two or more glasses of sweetened or sweetened beverages per day would increase the risk of death, all causes. According to the researchers, regular consumers of these beverages (more than two drinks a day) would be subject to 17% more deadly risks than those who almost never drink them.
Conducted on 451,743 individuals from ten European countries (including France, Germany, Greece and Italy), the study identified habits of consumption of sweetened or sweetened beverages for sixteen years. As a result, 9.3% of participants drinking less than a cup of soda per month died during the period, compared to 11.5% of those who drank more than two glasses of 25 cl per day.
"Avoid shortcuts"
In the study, researchers also took into account factors such as diet, physical activity, smoking, body mass index (BMI) or education of respondents. They concluded that sweet soda drinkers were more at risk for digestive diseases, while for consumers of sweetened drinks - that is, a large portion of drinks labeled "light" - cardiovascular diseases would be more common. Finally, the consumption of these two types of soda would promote the development of Parkinson's disease.
Not surprisingly for the nutrition specialist Eric Ménat. "Sugar is the first source of obesity and diabetes, responsible for cardiovascular problems," he explains to France 24. "After that, it's about statistical studies." We must always take into account the mode of life of these individuals to avoid shortcuts. " The same is true of Boris Hansel, endocrinologist-diabetologist and nutritionist at Bichat hospital. "We know that sodas have effects on the lining of the intestine, they make it more vulnerable to infections and therefore digestive diseases", he explains to France 24. "However, we still do not know exactly why sweetened beverages cause these diseases, "he admits. "That's why we have to take into account many other parameters: maybe people who have turned to" light "drinks already had a liability with non-" light "beverages. harmful, but we can not yet speak of a direct link of causality. "
Prevention still not very effective
To arrive at a reliable result, research has multiplied in recent years. "This is the third major study published in 2019 that combines sugary drinks with deaths from all causes," says Dr. Neil Murphy, involved in CIR research. Last July, a study by the National Institute of Health and Medical Research (Inserm) highlighted the role of sugar-sweetened beverages in "fatty liver disease", a liver pathology due to the accumulation of sugar and of fat in this organ. For the first time, official estimates were then advanced: about 8 million French people would have too fat liver in 2019.
However, despite the prevention of products and the "tax soda" that came into effect in 2012 in France, the consumption of these drinks would not have decreased in the country. "The band 'eat, move' is hypocrisy," says Éric Ménat. "Road safety campaigns work because they are long and straightforward, so imagine if you could get real pictures of the risks of these fizzy drinks on television, with the same amount of time as ads in their favor?" In the meantime, CIR scientists say they will continue their research, especially on the side of the direct impact of sweeteners on the human body.