Consumption of soft drinks with phosphoric acid as a risk factor for the development of hypocalcemia in postmenopausal women.

The objective of this study was to determine the relationship between the consumption of phosphoric acid-containing soft drinks and hypocalcemia in postmenopausal women. A case control study was designed to include 21 cases and 64 controls, matched by age and menopausal duration with similar family income, scholarship, and daily dietary intakes. Clinical and dietetic conditions that may produce hypocalcemia were considered as exclusion criteria. Cases were defined as a serum Ca level < or = 8.8 mg/dl, and controls as a serum CA level > 8.8 mg/dl. Women in the case group had a higher consumption of phosphoric acid-containing soft drink, and showed increased serum levels of PTH and hyperphosphaturia, than those in the control group without significant differences in 1,25(OH)2D3. In the multivariate regression analysis consumption of one or more bottles per day of cola soft drinks showed association with hypocalcemia (1.28, CI 95% 1.06-1.53). The consumption of soft drinks with phosphoric acid should be considered as an independent risk factor for hypocalcemia in postmenopausal women.