Worrying link between sugary soft drinks and depression: an unexpected discovery

Researchers recently uncovered a disturbing connection between the consumption of sugary soft drinks and the risk of developing depressive symptoms. Their findings revealed that weekly consumption was sufficient to increase this risk, and that the risk increased in proportion to the quantity consumed.

As part of this study, a team of scientists from Sungkyunkwan University in South Korea looked into the possible existence of a correlation between soda consumption and mental health. Their approach involved analysing data from the Kangbuk Samsung Health study, which collected medical information from 136,393 participants.

This vast database provided access to a wealth of information about the participants, including their responses to questionnaires about their diet, as well as their medical history, the results of various medical analyses, and data on factors such as alcohol consumption, smoking, level of physical activity, body mass index (BMI), blood pressure, etc. Once participants with specific health problems were excluded, the final sample comprised 87,115 participants with an average age of 39.5 years. Once participants with specific health problems were excluded, the final study sample comprised 87,115 participants with an average age of 39.5, a third of whom consumed sweetened soft drinks more than once a week.

It has already been established that consumption of these drinks is associated with various health problems such as obesity and diabetes. However, this study reveals a previously unknown and unexpected impact. The researchers identified a significant association between the consumption of these drinks and the risk of developing depressive symptoms, irrespective of the weight or blood sugar levels of the participants.

The origin of this effect remains enigmatic, and further studies will be needed to understand it more fully. Researchers speculate that it may be linked to insulin resistance or high blood sugar levels. Other theories include alterations in the intestinal microbiota, but the conclusion is clear: consumption of these drinks, which averages less than 100 ml a day in South Korea, can become a source of risk when it exceeds 350 ml in the United States.