The key difference between cola and other carbonated drinks, said Tucker, is the presence of phosphoric acid, which may be the blame for lower bone strength. In fact, previous studies have found that phosphoric acid may inhibit the ability of the body to use calcium, potentially inhibiting bone building.
It is important to note that all of the women in the study had similar calcium intakes, so the increased soda intake did not take the place of calcium-rich milk. However, those that drank the most cola did seem to have a lower intake of non-dairy sources of calcium, such as green, leafy vegetables and beans.
“A diet low in calcium and high in phosphorus may promote bone loss,” said Tucker.
Experts recommend that both men and women include about 1,200 mg of calcium into their diet every day. However, the women in the study only consumed about 1,000 mg of calcium each day, while men only consumed about 800 mg.
The men in the study who drank cola did not seem to suffer from any ill effects in regards to their bone strength, but that may be simply because they have, in general, much stronger bones than women.
“It is not clear why females would be more sensitive to the effects of cola than males,” wrote the study authors in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, “Girls and women have smaller bones overall, are at higher risk of osteoporosis and may be more sensitive to nutritional [problems].”
While everyone should realize that what you eat has the potential to affect your bones, “there is no concrete evidence that an occasional cola will harm the bones,” said Tucker, “However, women concerned about osteoporosis may want to steer away from frequent consumption of cola until further studies are conducted.”
