Does the drink you drink affect your risk of urinary incontinence?

Urinary incontinence affects nearly 20% of women
over the age of 50.
Many factors affect a woman's risk of
urinary incontinence.
A new study shows that despite some common misconceptions, drinking artificially sweetened beverages does not have a significant effect
on a woman's likelihood of developing diabetes.
The findings were published online today in Menopause
, the journal of the North American Menopause Society (NAMS).

Urinary incontinence, defined as loss of bladder control and unintentional leakage of urine, is not only embarrassing, but is also associated with serious comorbidities, including cognitive impairment, decreased function, falls, fractures, stroke, depression, and poor overall quality of life
.
Broken down into so-called stress incontinence and urge incontinence, it is estimated that its direct cost in the United States alone exceeds $60 billion
per year.

Interestingly, some foods and beverages, such as artificially sweetened beverages, have long been thought to have adverse effects on the bladder and lower urethra, but few actual studies have confirmed a link between urinary incontinence and artificial sweeteners (although there are rat models that suggest that artificial sweeteners can enhance detrusor contraction).

The new study, based on data analysis from the Women's Health Initiative Observational Study that included more than 80,000 women, specifically looked at the relationship
between artificially sweetened beverages and urinary incontinence symptoms.
It also aims to determine which type of urinary incontinence – stress or impulsivity – is most relevant
.

The study concluded that neither stress nor impulsive urinary incontinence was associated
with the consumption of artificially sweetened beverages.

The findings were published in "Artificial Sweetened Beverages and Urinary Incontinence: A Secondary Analysis of Observational Studies of the Women's Health Initiative
.
"

"This study is important because it can guide clinicians to focus more on behavioral changes, such as total intake, rather than the type of
beverage consumed, when consulting women with urinary incontinence.
" In addition, given the multiple potential adverse health effects of consuming sugar-sweetened beverages, the direction of counseling should not be to avoid artificially sweetened beverages," said
Dr.
Stephanie Forbien, medical director of NAMS.

For more information on menopause and healthy aging, visit www.
menopause.
org
.

Founded in 1989, the North American Menopause Association (NAMS) is North America's leading nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting health and quality of life
for all women in middle age and beyond through an understanding of menopause and healthy aging.
Its 2,000 multidisciplinary members are leaders in the field—including clinical and basic science experts from medicine, nursing, sociology, psychology, nutrition, anthropology, epidemiology, pharmacy, and education—making NAMS uniquely qualified to serve as the definitive resource for health professionals and the public with accurate, unbiased information
about menopause and healthy aging.
To learn more about NAMS, visit www.
menopause.
org
.