Soda linked with autism in male children- A recent study led by researchers at The University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio suggests that consuming even one diet soda a day during pregnancy or while breastfeeding may increase the risk of autism in male children.
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The study, which was a case-controlled investigation, found that boys who had been diagnosed with autism were three times more likely to have mothers who reported drinking at least one serving of diet soda or other aspartame-sweetened beverages daily during pregnancy or breastfeeding compared to boys with typical neurological development.
This connection was not observed in female offspring.
It’s important to note that these findings don’t establish a direct cause-and-effect relationship, but they do raise concerns, especially when combined with previous research indicating increased prematurity and potential health effects on infants and children exposed to diet beverages and aspartame during pregnancy.
Dr. Raymond F. Palmer, the senior author of the study, emphasized the need for further investigation into potential neurological impacts.
The study, published in the journal “Nutrients,” involved more than 350 children, including 235 with autism spectrum disorder and 121 with typical neurological development.
Mothers provided estimates of their consumption of diet sodas and aspartame during pregnancy.
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While more research is necessary to confirm these findings, the researchers recommend caution for pregnant and breastfeeding women when it comes to consuming these products.
They believe that maternal consumption of such beverages during periods of increased vulnerability in offspring may be a modifiable risk factor. Eliminating or reducing this consumption could potentially protect susceptible offspring in future generations.
It’s worth noting that aspartame, a common artificial sweetener found in diet sodas, has also been associated with neurological problems in some users.
The World Health Organization’s cancer agency, in July, classified aspartame as a “possible” cause of cancer.
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