Leena Watts
Pregnancy can be a confusing time for many people, with a lot of conflicting advice on what is and isn't safe to consume. While most foods and drinks are considered safe during pregnancy, some sources advise against the consumption of diet drinks. Research has indicated that drinking any kind of soda is a bad idea for pregnant women and could negatively impact the future health of the unborn child, with links to childhood obesity and high birth weight. However, other sources suggest that artificial sweeteners such as aspartame are safe for consumption by pregnant women in moderate amounts and that there is no advantage to drinking regular soda over diet soda.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Are diet drinks harmful when pregnant? | Research suggests that drinking any kind of soda is a bad idea for pregnant women and could negatively impact the future health of the unborn child. |
| What does the research say? | A study published in the International Journal of Epidemiology found that drinking diet soda while pregnant was linked to childhood obesity. |
| What did the study find? | About 9% of the women in the study drank at least one artificially sweetened drink during their pregnancy and gave birth to children who were 60% more likely to have a high birth weight. |
| What about other carbonated drinks? | Tonic water contains quinine, which may cause withdrawal symptoms in newborns from mothers who drank large quantities during pregnancy. |
| What about caffeine? | Caffeine is generally safe during pregnancy, but no more than 200mg per day. More than this amount can increase the risk of pregnancy complications such as low birth weight and miscarriage. |
| What about herbal tea? | Herbal teas are safe for pregnant women to consume in moderation. Current guidelines recommend no more than four cups per day. |
| What about artificial sweeteners? | The FDA and American Academy of Pediatrics have deemed aspartame safe for pregnant women and developing fetuses. The APA and FDA also approve moderate use of aspartame and some other sweeteners. |
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What You'll Learn
Diet drinks and childhood obesity
Pregnant women often turn to zero-calorie, artificially sweetened beverages to help avoid weight gain. However, research suggests that these drinks may have the opposite effect and cause weight gain, even altering your digestion and sense of taste.
A study published in the International Journal of Epidemiology analyzed data collected from 1996 to 2002 by the Danish National Birth Cohort, which studied the pregnancies of 91,000 women in Denmark. The study found that drinking any kind of soda is a bad idea for pregnant women and could negatively impact the future health of the unborn child. Specifically, the study linked diet soda consumption during pregnancy to a 60% higher likelihood of giving birth to a baby with a high birth weight compared to women who didn't drink diet soda.
The artificial sweeteners in diet sodas are likely to blame. Cuilin Zhang, a senior investigator in the epidemiology branch of the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, explains that these sweeteners may "exacerbate glucose intolerance, compared to regular sugar," leading to increased intestinal absorption of glucose and promoting excessive intake and weight gain.
Another study conducted by the University of Manitoba found similar results, drawing correlations between drinking artificially sweetened sodas during pregnancy and overweight children. The study author, Meghan Azad, an assistant professor of pediatrics and child health, concluded that "the artificial sweeteners are responsible for the observed association."
In addition to the potential health risks for the child, there may be other factors at play for the mother. For example, a pregnant woman who regularly consumes diet soda may have a sweet tooth and be more likely to indulge in other unhealthier foods that contribute to weight gain and obesity. Diet sodas can also distort a person's taste buds and cause them to crave more sugar, leading to increased calorie intake.
While the exact mechanisms are still being studied, the current body of research suggests that pregnant women should avoid artificially sweetened beverages and choose water and other unsweetened drinks instead.
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Aspartame in diet drinks
Aspartame is an artificial sweetener commonly found in diet drinks. It is the leading sweetener in US diet sodas. Aspartame is known to break down into methanol, aspartic acid, and phenylalanine if stored near or above room temperature.
There is no strong evidence to suggest that aspartame can cause cancer or any other serious issues for the average person. The FDA and JECFA have set a recommended daily intake of 40 or 50 mg per kg of body weight, which is considered safe. As a can of diet soda contains only a small amount of aspartame, most people are unlikely to consume more than the recommended daily intake.
However, some studies have found potential detrimental effects of consuming diet drinks. A 2020 study found a link between drinking diet soda while pregnant and childhood obesity. Another study found that men who consumed greater amounts of diet soda were more likely to develop non-Hodgkin lymphoma and multiple myeloma. In addition, a 2023 case-control study found a tripled risk of autism in male offspring whose mothers consumed at least one diet soda per day during pregnancy.
It is important to note that the studies on the health effects of aspartame and diet soft drinks are limited and have not consistently shown strong associations with negative health outcomes. More research is needed to fully understand the potential risks associated with aspartame consumption, especially during pregnancy.
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Diet drinks and autism
While most foods and drinks are safe to consume during pregnancy, some should be avoided or consumed in moderation. For example, the NHS recommends limiting caffeine intake to no more than 200 mg per day, as excessive caffeine consumption has been linked to an increased risk of pregnancy complications. Similarly, there is growing evidence that diet drinks may be harmful when consumed during pregnancy.
A study published in the International Journal of Epidemiology analysed data from the Danish National Birth Cohort, which studied the pregnancies of 91,000 women in Denmark. The research indicated that drinking any kind of soda during pregnancy could negatively impact the future health of the unborn child. Specifically, it found that children born to women who consumed sweetened beverages during pregnancy were nearly twice as likely to be overweight or obese by the age of seven.
Furthermore, a more recent case-control study published in August 2023 in the journal Nutrients found a link between the daily consumption of diet soda or comparable amounts of aspartame (a widely used artificial sweetener) during pregnancy or breastfeeding and autism diagnosis in male offspring. The study, led by researchers at The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, collected retrospective dietary data from mothers of children with autism spectrum disorder and a control group with typical neurological development. The results showed that boys with autism were more than three times as likely as neurotypically developing boys to have been exposed to these products in utero or during breastfeeding.
While the study did not find a statistically significant association in female offspring, the researchers acknowledge that further research is needed to evaluate these associations in larger and more diverse study populations. Additionally, the study authors emphasise that these findings do not prove causality but raise important questions about potential neurological impacts that warrant further investigation.
In conclusion, while the exact mechanisms and risk factors are still being explored, the current body of research suggests that diet drinks and artificial sweeteners may be harmful when consumed during pregnancy, particularly in terms of their potential impact on childhood obesity and autism in male offspring. As such, it may be advisable for pregnant women to limit or avoid the consumption of these beverages and opt for healthier alternatives like water.
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Diet drinks and toxoplasmosis
While most foods and drinks are safe to consume during pregnancy, there are some things that should be avoided. The NHS recommends that pregnant women should not consume more than 200mg of caffeine per day, as doing so could increase the risk of pregnancy complications such as low birth weight and miscarriage. Similarly, herbal teas are generally safe for pregnant women, but only in moderation (no more than four cups per day).
Diet drinks are one of the drinks that should be avoided during pregnancy. Research published in the International Journal of Epidemiology analysed data collected from 1996 to 2002 by the Danish National Birth Cohort, studying the pregnancies of 91,000 women in Denmark. The study found a link between drinking diet soda while pregnant and childhood obesity. About 9% of the women said they drank at least one artificially sweetened drink during their pregnancy, and their children were 60% more likely to have a high birth weight. By the time these children reached seven years old, they were nearly twice as likely to be overweight or obese. Jonathan Schaffir, MD, an ob/gyn at the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, told Yahoo Beauty that there may be other factors at play, such as a pregnant woman with a sweet tooth being more likely to indulge in other less healthy foods that can contribute to weight gain and obesity.
In addition to diet drinks, there are other drinks that should be avoided during pregnancy. Tonic water, for example, contains quinine, which can cause withdrawal symptoms in newborns from mothers who drank large quantities of tonic water during pregnancy. Raw milk is another drink to avoid during pregnancy, as it may contain harmful bacteria that can lead to infection and serious consequences for the baby's health.
Pregnant women should also be cautious about toxoplasmosis, an infection caused by the parasite Toxoplasma gondii. This parasite is commonly found in cats but can also infect other animals and people. While toxoplasmosis usually does not cause problems for healthy individuals, it can be dangerous during pregnancy as the parasite can cross the placenta and infect the unborn baby. The risk of the fetus becoming infected is low during the first trimester but increases in later trimesters. Diagnosis and treatment of toxoplasmosis during pregnancy may reduce the effects the infection can have on the baby. To avoid infection, pregnant women should cook meat thoroughly, wash fruits and vegetables, and drink clean water. They should also wash their hands after touching soil, gardening, or changing cat litter.
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Safe alternatives to diet drinks
While the verdict on diet drinks during pregnancy is mixed, it is generally recommended to avoid them. So, what are some safe alternatives to diet drinks for pregnant women?
Firstly, water is the best alternative to diet drinks during pregnancy. Water is essential for hydration, and pregnant women should aim for 8 to 12 cups of water daily to support kidney health, digestion, and the supply of amniotic fluid. If you want to add some flavour, you can add lemon, ginger, cucumber, or mint to your water. Just be mindful of how much ginger you add, as it can worsen bloating or gas.
If you're craving something fizzy, carbonated water is a safe option during pregnancy, but be cautious with commercial flavoured waters, as they can be high in sugar, artificial sweeteners, and chemicals. If you want something warm, herbal teas are generally safe, but stick to no more than four cups a day, and avoid drinking large quantities of herbs like raspberry leaf, chamomile, fennel, peppermint, and ginger.
If you're missing your caffeine fix, a little coffee is probably fine, but limit your caffeine intake to less than 200 mg a day.
If you're looking for something sweeter, fresh fruit juices are a good option, but be mindful of the sugar content and consider diluting them with water.
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Frequently asked questions
Research suggests that drinking any kind of soda is a bad idea for pregnant women and could negatively impact the future health of the unborn child. A study published in the International Journal of Epidemiology found that drinking diet soda while pregnant is linked to childhood obesity. However, the FDA and the American Academy of Pediatrics have deemed aspartame safe for both pregnant women and developing fetuses. As such, it is recommended to follow the advice of a doctor.
It is recommended that pregnant women drink water. Other safe drinks include milk and herbal teas, as long as they are consumed in moderation.
A study published in the International Journal of Epidemiology found that drinking diet soda while pregnant is linked to childhood obesity. The study found that children born to women who drank sweetened beverages during pregnancy were nearly twice as likely to be overweight or obese by the time they turned seven.
