According to the data released by the Nurses' Health Study, a major American lifestyle and health investigation, too much consumption of drinks which contain artificial sweeteners may have a negative effect on the kidneys. The effects of artificially sweetened soda drinks were observed on over 3,000 women. Comparison made between effects of sugar sweetened drinks with those of drinks which contained artificial sweeteners confirmed the findings.

According to the research, consumption of more than two artificially sweetened drinks in a day multiplied the risk of decline in kidney function by two. On the other hand, no such negative effects were found of sugar sweetened drinks.

Dr Julie Lin, who co-led the survey, along with a group from the Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, said, "While more study is needed, our research suggests that higher sodium and artificially sweetened soda intake is associated with greater rate of decline in kidney function".

The findings were presented at the annual conference of the American Society of Nephrology in San Diego, California. The study, findings of which are being considered very valuable from both a scientific and consumer point of view, is now looking to take its investigation further to explore other artificially sweetened foods.