Fizzy drink consumption linked to infertility in US study

Consuming sugary fizzy drinks on a regular basis could affect fertility, researchers have said.
A new study has shown that even one sugary drink a day could be enough to reduce the chances of conceiving, for both men and women.
While the findings observed were observational only and not indicative of a causal connectio, the results add to a growing body of research illustrating established and prospective negative effects of regular sugar intake.
Consuming high quantities of sugar is already linked to other health conditions, such as obesity and type 2 diabetes. In America – where the study was conducted – it is thought one third of sugar intake per person in the country comes from fizzy drinks.
Sugar is now being considered more and more as a major factor in health, and leading cardiologist Dr Aseem Malhotra last month addressed the European Parliament on how dangerous sugar can be in our diet.
The researchers from Boston University School of Public Health in Massachusetts examined 3,828 women, aged between 21 and 45, and 1,045 of their male partners who were recruited via the Pregnancy Study Online cohort study.
Their medical history, lifestyle and diet were recorded via regular questionnaires that were carried out until they became pregnant.
Once the data had been collected, the findings showed the daily consumption of fizzy drinks was linked with a 20% reduction of becoming pregnant. No strong link was found between fruit juices or diet drinks and infertility.
There was an association between poor fertility and energy drinks, but the researchers noted the findings were only based on a small number of participants so should be viewed with caution.
Elizabeth Hatch, who is a professor of epidemiology at the Boston University School of Public Health in Massachusetts, said: “We found positive associations between intake of sugar-sweetened beverages and lower fertility, which were consistent after controlling for many other factors, including obesity, caffeine intake, alcohol, smoking, and overall diet quality.
“Couples planning a pregnancy might consider limiting their consumption of these beverages, especially because they are also related to other adverse health effects.”
The results appear online in the journal Epidemiology.
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