In this kat’s quest to bring you the latest health and nutrition news, I’ve come across something y’all might find interesting. It concerns the possible connection diet soda may have with heart disease and diabetes.

Yep, you read right. That innocent pink can of Tab you’re swigging may mess with your ticker. Or lead you unwittingly down the road to diabetes.

Some of you hardcore health junkies may remember hearing about the results of a study in the July 2007 edition of the American Heart Association's journal, Circulation.

The paper, “Soft Drink Consumption and Risk of Developing Cardiometabolic Risk Factors and the Metabolic Syndrome in Middle-Aged Adults in the Community,” found people who drank one or more diet sodas each day developed the same risks for heart disease as those who consumed sugar-laden soda. This shocked researchers, who expected to see some difference between regular and diet soda.

Part of what the study concluded was people who drank one or more sodas (diet or full-octane) a day had an increased risk of developing metabolic syndrome compared to those who rarely drank soda. Metabolic syndrome is a constellation of symptoms that increases the risk for heart disease and diabetes. Signs of this metabolic nightmare include bulging waistlines along with higher blood pressure, blood sugar, cholesterol, and triglyceride readings.

The research for the paper came from a huge, multi-generational heart study observing residents of Framingham, Massachusetts. It’s important to note that the Framingham studies are some of the most revered in medical circles. Since 1948 they’ve followed as many as three living generations of families and their cardiovascular health.

To illustrate the study’s influence, before Framingham cigarette smoking was not considered a major contributor to heart disease. The Framingham Heart Study’s goal is to identify the common factors contributing to cardiovascular disease (CVD) by following its development over long periods of time. They use very large groups of participants who haven’t developed CVD symptoms or suffered a heart attack or stroke.

Barry Popkin, University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill, who has argued for a surgeon general warning on soda, said the study’s results aren't really surprising. He said diet sodas are usually marketed to people who already lead unhealthy lives and know they need to change their dietary choices. This means many people drinking diet sodas are more likely to have unhealthy habits that could lead to increased heart disease risks exclusive of their diet soda consumption.

To say this study got the beverage industry’s bloomers in a bunch would be an understatement. Here’s what Susan Neeley, president of the American Beverage Association, said, “How can something with zero calories that's 99 percent water with a little flavoring in it cause weight gain?" she said.

While Ms. Neeley has a point, the larger issue will probably be the behavioral component attached to diet beverage consumption that ends up implicating her industry, whether that’s a fair thing or not.

This kat is left pondering several things:

1) The fact that two separate studies are now showing some connection between heart disease, pre-diabetic conditions, and diet soda suggests there’s probably something to think about here. A more current paper from a different team in January 2008 supports the original study’s findings. Which is, again, the knowledge that people who drink liters of diet soda a day are probably also having trouble moderating their intake of other foods.

2) There is undoubtedly more research (even the researchers agree) that needs to be done before drawing any hard conclusions about diet soda and disease.

3) The jury is still out on aspartame. While some may seem to have no problems, others contend it is not the miracle sweetener food companies would have you think it is.

I hope this information helps all you humans remember to grab some POW (plain old water) the next time the urge to pound down Diet Pepsi overtakes you.

So, until next time this is your favorite feline wishing all my adoring fans nothing but blessings and may “the Devil take the hindmost.” Sorry, to bring religion into this, but the Kat is a wee worried about his feline soul after shining a light on the large soda companies. Or Big Fizz, as I call them.

You do know they have hit squads, don’t you? Why do you think they call their product pop?