The relationship between diet soda soft drinks, artificial sweeteners, and diabetic retinopathy
Hyder O Mirghani, Naif Mamdouh Alali, Hani Basher Albalawi, Majed S. Alqahtani, Iman Mohsen Abutaleb Qisi, Naif Khalf Almutairi
Abstract
Background
The relationship between diabetic retinopathy and diet-drink (soft soda), non-nutritive sweeteners have not been fully determined. We here attempted to determine it.
Aims
The study aimed to assess the association between soda soft drinks, non-nutritive sweeteners, and diabetic retinopathy.
Methods
A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted at a diabetes center in Tabuk city, Saudi Arabia from September 2019 to April 2020: 174 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) were interviewed using a structured questionnaire: demographic data, the DM duration, the lifestyles (exercise, smoking, and diet), and the medications. The weekly amount of diet soda and daily consumption of non-nutritive sweeteners were assessed. These were analysed with association with retinopathy.
Results
The glycated haemoglobin per cent was 8.50±1.60, the diet soda and artificial sweeteners consumptions were 1.18±1.57 cans/week and 0.89±1.26 sachets/day, respectively. No association was found between artificial sweeteners, diet soda, and diabetic retinopathy (Wald, 1.251, and 0.213, P-values, 0.263, and 0.644, 95 per cent CI, 0.583–7.204, and 0.190–2.793 respectively). Retinopathy incidence was associated with the DM duration (Wald, 8.095, P-value, 0.004, and 95 per cent CI, 0.766–0.952).
Conclusion
Diet soda and non-nutritive sweeteners were not associated with diabetic retinopathy, irrespective of gender or body mass index. Diabetic retinopathy was associated with the duration of DM after its first diagnosis.
Full Text:
The relationship between diabetic retinopathy and diet-drink (soft soda), non-nutritive sweeteners have not been fully determined. We here attempted to determine it.
Aims
The study aimed to assess the association between soda soft drinks, non-nutritive sweeteners, and diabetic retinopathy.
Methods
A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted at a diabetes center in Tabuk city, Saudi Arabia from September 2019 to April 2020: 174 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) were interviewed using a structured questionnaire: demographic data, the DM duration, the lifestyles (exercise, smoking, and diet), and the medications. The weekly amount of diet soda and daily consumption of non-nutritive sweeteners were assessed. These were analysed with association with retinopathy.
Results
The glycated haemoglobin per cent was 8.50±1.60, the diet soda and artificial sweeteners consumptions were 1.18±1.57 cans/week and 0.89±1.26 sachets/day, respectively. No association was found between artificial sweeteners, diet soda, and diabetic retinopathy (Wald, 1.251, and 0.213, P-values, 0.263, and 0.644, 95 per cent CI, 0.583–7.204, and 0.190–2.793 respectively). Retinopathy incidence was associated with the DM duration (Wald, 8.095, P-value, 0.004, and 95 per cent CI, 0.766–0.952).
Conclusion
Diet soda and non-nutritive sweeteners were not associated with diabetic retinopathy, irrespective of gender or body mass index. Diabetic retinopathy was associated with the duration of DM after its first diagnosis.
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