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BACKGROUND:Soft drink consumption may have adverse effects on bone mineral density (BMD),but studies have shown mixed results. In addition to displacing healthierbeverages, colas contain caffeine and phosphoric acid (H(3)PO(4)),which may adversely affect bone. OBJECTIVE: We hypothesized that consumption ofcola is associated with lower BMD. DESIGN: BMD was measured at the spine and 3hip sites in 1413 women and 1125 men in the Framingham Osteoporosis Study byusing dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Dietary intake was assessed byfood-frequency questionnaire. We regressed each BMD measure on the frequency ofsoft drink consumption for men and women after adjustment for body mass index,height, age, energy intake, physical activity score, smoking, alcohol use,total calcium intake, total vitamin D intake, caffeine from noncola sources,season of measurement, and, for women, menopausal status and estrogen use.RESULTS: Cola intake was associated with significantly lower (P <0.001-0.05) BMD at each hip site, but not the spine, in women but not in men.The mean BMD of those with daily cola intake was 3.7% lower at the femoral neckand 5.4% lower at Ward's area than of those who consumed <1 serving cola/mo.Similar results were seen for diet cola and, although weaker, for decaffeinatedcola. No significant relations between noncola carbonated beverage consumptionand BMD were observed. Total phosphorus intake was not significantly higher indaily cola consumers than in nonconsumers; however, the calcium-to-phosphorusratios were lower. CONCLUSIONS: Intake of cola, but not of other carbonatedsoft drinks, is associated with low BMD in women. Additional research is needed toconfirm these findings. Leggi l'articolo