According to a study by scientists at Tufts University, Boston, colas can cause osteoporosis, the bone-ailment that afflicts over 300 million women in India. They found that intake of cola is associated with low bone mineral density (BMD), which then leads to osteoporosis. Osteoporosis reduces bone density and affects its quality, leading to weakness of the skeleton and an increased risk of fracture, particularly of the spine, wrist and hip.
BMD was measured at the spine and three areas on the hip in 1,413 women and 1,125 men, in the study published in the October issue of American Journal of Chemical Nutrition (Vol 84, No 4). It was found that cola intake was associated with significantly lower BMD at each hip site, but not the spine, and only in women. According to the research, phosphoric acid, a cola ingredient, is responsible for the low BMD but the mechanism is not fully understood. "Phosphoric acid creates an acidic environment in the blood.And, calcium goes out of the bones to balance that out. But this view is controversial," said Katherina Tucker, a co-author.
According to the International Osteoporosis Foundation (IOF), evidence based on ageing population indicates that there may be a 50 per cent increase in the number of people afflicted with osteoporosis in India in the next decade.
A fifth of the people surveyed by another study published in the May issue of the Indian Journal of Medical Sciences (Vol 60, No 5) suffered osteoporosis. The maximum number of cases was recorded in the age group of 55-64 years. After the age of 65, there was a 100 per cent incidence of osteoporosis, indicating that it increases with age and in the postmenopausal period.
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