​Habitual consumers of diet soda may have a high predisposition to developing end stage renal disease.

This study examined the relation between frequent consumption of diet soda and the occurrence of end stage renal disease (ESRD). Using validated food frequency questionnaires, researchers collected and assessed data on the sugary beverage consumption levels of 15,368 subjects recruited from the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) study cohort. The odds of having end stage renal disease were determined in all the subjects.

Researchers observed that the likelihood of developing end stage renal disease was high in regular consumers of diet soda. The authors concluded that high intake of diet soda may increase the incidence of end stage renal disease in the studied population.