Potassium, calcium and mineral levels in people consuming large amounts of cola-based drinks have been plummeting over the years, with devastating consequences, new evidence shows. In a study published in the June issue of the International Journal of Clinical Practice, experts from the University of Ioannina, in Greece, warn that such excessive amounts of cola inserted in the human body cause rapid demineralization of the bones and the teeth, as well as a sharp drop in potassium levels. When the latter event occurs, muscles start losing mass, and can weaken to the point of complete paralysis. The good news is that the effects can be reversed by stopping cola consumption and administering potassium.

“We are consuming more soft drinks than ever before and a number of health issues have already been identified including tooth problems, bone demineralization and the development of metabolic syndrome and diabetes. Evidence is increasing to suggest that excessive cola consumption can also lead to hypokalaemia, in which the blood potassium levels fall, causing an adverse effect on vital muscle functions,” UI Department of Internal Medicine expert, Dr. Moses Elisaf explained.

For their investigations, the researhers analyzed a number of case studies, in which people drank between two and nine liters of cola-based beverages each day. Two pregnant women, admitted to the hospital with low potassium levels, were also studied in their research.

“The individual role of each of these ingredients [glucose, fructose and caffeine] in the pathophysiology of cola-induced hypokalaemia has not been determined and may vary in different patients. However, in most of the cases we looked at for our review, caffeine intoxication was thought to play the most important role. This has been borne out by case studies that focus on other products that contain high levels of caffeine but no glucose or fructose. Despite this, caffeine free cola products can also cause hypokalaemia because the fructose they contain can cause diarrhea,” Dr. Elisaf added.

“Although most patients recover when they stop drinking cola and take potassium supplements, cola-induced chronic hypokalaemia can make them more susceptible to potentially fatal complications, such as an irregular heartbeat. In addition, excessive consumption of any kind of cola can lead to a range of health problems including fatigue, loss of productivity and muscular symptoms that vary from mild weakness to profound paralysis. We believe that further studies are needed to establish how much is too much when it comes to the daily consumption of cola drinks,” the UI expert shared.

“Cola drinks need to be added to the physician's checklist of drugs and substances that can cause hypokalaemia. And the soft drink industry needs to promote safe and moderate use of its products for all age groups, reduce serving sizes and pay heed to the rising call for healthier drinks,” Ohio-based Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center expert Dr. Clifford Packer, who commented on the new study, pinpointed.