Q&As

Beverages & Bone Health

What factors impact bone health?

Many factors impact bone health, most importantly diet and exercise. Clearly calcium consumption is critical to developing strong, healthy bones. The beverage industry has a variety of dairy and milk-based beverage products, fortified juice beverages, bottled waters and 7UP that contain calcium to provide consumers with healthy beverage choices.

Are adolescents drinking more soft drinks than milk?

While adolescents are not consuming as much calcium as they should, soft drinks are not the reason why. Research conducted at Georgetown University, Michigan State University and Virginia Tech shows that soft drinks are not displacing milk and calcium in the diet of children and adolescents. The study also revealed only a modest level of carbonated soft drink consumption among teenage girls.

Does soft drink consumption negatively affect bone health?

Research shows that while the consumption of calcium among adolescents is not where it should be, soft drinks are not displacing calcium in the diets of adolescents. In fact, scientists at the University of Maryland studied changes in calcium intake and found that as milk consumption decreased and soft drink consumption increased calcium intake was not affected. The beverage industry has a variety of dairy-based and calcium-fortified beverages to provide consumers with ways to introduce more calcium into their beverage choices.

What types of beverages are good for bone health?

Many different beverages can help contribute to bone health. The beverage industry has a variety of dairy and milk-based beverages, fortified juices and bottled waters that contain calcium and Vitamin D that can help contribute to strong bone health.

Does the phosphoric acid in soft drinks negatively impact bone health?

A growing body of scientific research shows that phosphoric acid contained in some soft drinks does not adversely affect bone health. Many soft drinks do not contain phosphorous. Those that do contain very little phosphorous (less than two percent of the total in the American diet), and phosphorous in soft drinks does not cause weak or brittle bones.

There is more phosphorous in milk, cheddar cheese and chicken than in soft drinks.

Calcium deficiencies in children and adolescents most likely result from an inadequate total diet, not from soft drink consumption.

Does caffeine intake contribute to osteoporosis?

Caffeine intake is not a significant risk factor for osteoporosis, particularly in women who consume enough calcium. A 1994 National Institutes of Health advisory panel found that caffeine does not significantly affect calcium absorption or excretion. Several more recent studies have shown no link between moderate caffeine consumption and bone density and mineral content in women who consume some calcium in their diet.