It’s okay for children to drink carbonated drinks, as it won’t affect their bone development?

The truth: This is not true. Frequent drinking of carbonated drinks by children may have adverse effects on bone development.

Analysis: Nutrition experts at home and abroad generally recommend limiting the intake of sugary drinks, including carbonated drinks, by children and adolescents in order to reduce sugar intake and prevent obesity and related health problems.

This is because carbonated drinks typically contain high amounts of sugar and phosphates, two ingredients that may negatively affect children's bone health.

Current research has shown that excessive sugar intake may lead to childhood obesity, which in turn can cause a variety of health problems, including affecting the absorption of vitamin D and interfering with the secretion of growth hormone, sex hormones and other hormones, thereby indirectly affecting bone development. In addition, obesity puts additional pressure on bones, which may lead to changes in bone morphology and function.

Secondly, excessive intake of phosphates may interfere with calcium absorption. Calcium and phosphorus complement each other in bone formation, and an ideal calcium-phosphorus ratio is essential for bone health. Studies have found that the consumption of carbonated beverages is associated with insufficient calcium intake in children, because children may replace calcium-rich drinks such as milk with carbonated beverages.

In addition, studies have shown that children who frequently drink carbonated beverages may have lower bone density than their peers who do not drink. Bone density is an important indicator of bone strength, and low bone density may increase the risk of fractures.

In summary, children who frequently drink carbonated beverages may have an adverse effect on bone development. Parents are advised to choose healthier drinks for their children, such as milk or water. Parents also need to pay attention to their children's diet to ensure that they consume enough calcium and vitamin D to support healthy bone development.

References:

[1] Ahn H, Park YK. Sugar-sweetened beverage consumption and bone health: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Nutr J. 2021 May 5;20(1):41. doi: 10.1186/s12937-021-00698-1. PMID: 33952276; PMCID: PMC8101184.

[2] Pereira, MA, Jacobs, DR, Van Horn, L., et al. (2007). Dairy Consumption, Obesity, and the Insulin Resistance Syndrome in Children and Young Adults. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 85(4), 1108-1114.

[3] Weaver, CM, et al. (2016). Calcium and Bone Health: A Report from the Institute of Medicine. Journal of Bone and Mineral Research, 31(1), 39-42.

[4] Khalid N. Impact of carbonated beverages on early onset of osteoporosis: A narrative review. Nutr Health. 2024 Jun;30(2):207-214. doi: 10.1177/02601060231201890. Epub 2023 Sep 11. PMID: 37697739.

[5] McGartland C, Robson PJ, Murray L, Cran G, Savage MJ, Watkins D, Rooney M, Boreham C. Carbonated soft drink consumption and bone mineral density in adolescence: the Northern Ireland Young Hearts project. J Bone Miner Res. 2003 Sep;18(9):1563-9. doi: 10.1359/jbmr.2003.18.9.1563. PMID: 12968664.

Author: Fan Yunzhu, Chief Physician of Jiahui Medical

Review丨Zhang Yu, researcher/PhD, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, national health science expert