The Australian beverage industry has rejected claims that consumers who drink at least one artificially sweetened drink every day have a three times greater risk of having a stroke or developing dementia.
The researchers of a Boston University study, published in medical journal Stroke, said its findings showed an association with dementia and these types of drinks – but further investigation was needed.
Australian Beverages Council CEO Geoff Parker dismissed the study, saying the link between dementia and diet drinks is "completely artificial".
"Even the authors of this study admit that they failed to find any cause and effect, and provide weak scientific evidence to support their contention," he said.
"The safety of low-kilojoule sweeteners used in diet drinks is supported by leading regulatory agencies throughout the world, such as the US Food and Drug Administration, the European Food Safety Authority, the National Health and Medical Research Council, and Food Standards Australia and New Zealand – as well as health groups including the Australian Diabetes Council and Dieticians Association of Australia."
The US researchers analysed data on nearly 2900 people over the age of 45 for the stroke study, and almost 1500 people over age 60 for the dementia study.
The participants recorded their eating and drinking habits in questionnaires and they were then followed up after 10 years.
At the end of the follow-up period, the researchers found 97 cases of stroke, and 81 cases of dementia, 63 of which were diagnosed as Alzheimer's disease.
The people who drank at least one artificially-sweetened beverage a day were three times as likely to develop a ischemic stroke and 2.9 times as likely to develop dementia, according to the researchers.
The study did not find the same link between sugary drinks and stroke or dementia.
