A new study in mice, by researchers from the University of Utah, Arizona and the California Children’s Institute, reveals that heavily sugared sodas (30-40g per can) could have many negative health effects, especially on fertility, survival instinct and competitiveness.
Mice fed a “sugary” diet (the human equivalent of 3 cans of soft drinks per day) have a much shorter lifespan than mice fed a normal diet.
To compare the harmfulness of soft drinks, the researchers established a sugary diet based on corn syrup high in fructose and sucrose, a sweetener commonly used in sodas.
Both groups of mice followed their diets for 26 weeks. Competitiveness, fertility, survival instinct and metabolic measures were assessed and compared.
The researchers found a difference between the two groups of mice: the sweet diet multiplied by 2 the mortality rate of female mice. In addition, their cholesterol levels increase and fertility gradually decreases.
Male mice fed on a sweet diet have low competitiveness: these rodents defend only 36% of their territory while mice on a healthy diet preserve 48% of their habitat. This diet also involves a greatly reduced fertility.
The researchers suggest that theanalyzes demonstrate the harmful effects of a diet that is too rich in sugar, particularly sugary drinks. However, humans are not mice and the effects will not necessarily be identical. No need to worry, but think about the already established health risks of overconsumption of sugar and moderate your consumption.“.
This study was published in the scientific journal Nature Communications.
