Wednesday June 5, 2013 (foodconsumer.org) -- Sugar-sweetened beverages are known to be associated with increased risk for type 2 diabetes mellitus.  A new Japanese study released in the April 2013 issue of European Journal of Nutrition suggests that diet soda is no better than sugar sweetened beverages in Japanese men.

Diet soda, which often uses zero-calorie artificial sweeteners, is intended for those who fear becoming obese by drinking sugar-sweetened soft drinks.

In the cohort study, 2037 employees of a factory in Japan were followed up for seven years during which 170 participants were diagnosed with type 2 diabetes.  Consumption of sugar sweetened beverages and diet soda was surveyed through a self-administered diet history questionnaire.

The study found after adjustment, those who consumed equal to or greater than 1 serving of sugar sweetened beverage per day were 35 percent more likely to develop type 2 diabetes mellitus than those who rarely consumed the beverages.

The study also found diet soda consumption was significantly correlated with incidence of diabetes mellitus and after adjustment for other confounders, those who drank equal to or greater than one serving of diet soda were 70 percent more likely to develop type 2 diabetes mellitus, compared with those who rarely drank this type of soft drinks.

The researchers concluded "Consumption of diet soda was significantly associated with an increased risk for diabetes in Japanese men. Diet soda is not always effective at preventing type 2 diabetes even though it is a zero-calorie drink." (Reporting by Jimmy Downs)