Frequency of Carbonated Beverage Drinking, Knowledge Regarding its Risks on Health and Association with Bone Mineral Density in Medical Students

Background: The carbonated drink manufacturing companies has set young school/college going children as their primary target customers who are consuming it on daily basis and frequency of drinking vary depending on affordability and need. The consumption of carbonated drink has been increased recently that has led us to think about its unwanted effects on health. It has been identified that consuming more carbonated drinks may cause low bone mineral density.

Objectives: To identify the frequency of consumption of carbonated drinks in medical students and to assess the knowledge regarding adverse effects of theses drinks and association of BMD.

Methodology: It was a cross sectional study conducted at Baqai Medical University Karachi from May to August 2020. Students of MBBS 4th year and BDS final year were approached, sample size was calculated at 50% precision of total population i.e 100 participants were recruited by convenient sampling from the mentioned classes. Preformed questionnaire was administered to identify the frequency and knowledge regarding the subject and bone mineral density through Single x-ray absorptiometry (SXA).

Results: The study participants almost (90%) were aware of the name carbonated drink of, 85.5% were aware regarding the harmful effects, and 75.5% were having knowledge about the ingredients. Majority were aware regarding health related effects but they were not having knowledge about names of the specific diseases. There was no significant (0.079) association between carbonated drink consumption and BMD.

Conclusion: Students were aware of health related hazards caused by carbonated drinks there was no association of carbonated drink consumption and BMD.