London - Women who have a fizzy drink every day may be increasing their risk of a life-threatening stroke, new research shows.
The daily consumption of sugary drinks raises a woman’s chances of suffering a blood clot on the brain by about 80 percent, Japanese scientists found.
But there was only a very slight increase in the risk for men.
The findings, by a team of experts at Osaka University, partly support US research published earlier this year that found both sugar-sweetened drinks and low-calorie alternatives raised the chances of strokes in both sexes.
Numerous studies have linked rising consumption with the increased rate of obesity and type two diabetes, both of which are risk factors for strokes.
But few studies have examined the precise link between the consumption of fizzy beverages and the rate of brain blood clots.
Of the thousands who die daily from strokes, about 85 percent are affected by ischaemic strokes, where a clot travels to the brain and shuts off its blood supply.
The rest are called haemorrhagic strokes, where a blood vessel bursts in the brain, causing potentially fatal bleeding.
The Osaka team tracked almost 40 000 men and women aged between 40 and 59 over 18 years, documenting dietary habits, including the consumption of soft drinks.
During that period, almost 2 000 of the volunteers had a stroke.
They analysed the drinking habits of the stroke victims and compared them with those who did not develop clots.
The results, published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, showed women who had a daily fizzy drink were 83 percent more likely to suffer an ischaemic stroke than women who rarely or never had one.
The researchers said they found no link with haemorrhagic strokes or heart disease.
In a report on their findings they said: “Soft drink intake was positively associated with the risk of ischaemic stroke for women.” – Daily Mail