Chugging liters of cola may cause muscle harm

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Chugging liters of cola may cause muscle harm

Greek doctors say swilling huge amounts of soda daily is not so uncommon

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/31130076/

Drinking several liters of cola-containing soft drinks per day can cause a

chronic depletion of potassium in the body, leading to muscle weakness and even

paralysis, according to Greek doctors.

While you might think that " excessive soft drink consumption at this level is so

rare that it is not a public health issue, " writes the author of an accompanying

editorial in the International Journal of Clinical Practice, " we have every

reason to think that it is not rare. "

Dr. Moses f and associates at the University of Ioannina, Greece identified

six reports of cola-induced potassium deficiency published since 1994.

Quantities of cola consumed ranged from 2 to 9 liters per day.

Muscle complaints ranged from mild weakness to profound paralysis, and all

patients had abnormally low potassium levels in the blood.

" Fortunately, " f and colleagues write, " all patients had a rapid and

complete recovery after the discontinuation of cola ingestion and the oral or

intravenous supplementation of potassium. "

In his editorial, Dr. Clifford D. Packer at the Louis Stokes Cleveland VA

Medical Center in Cleveland, Ohio, comments that " there is very little doubt

that tens of millions of people in industrialized countries drink at least 2-3 L

of cola per day. "

Packer stresses that " 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. "