Artificially sweetened beverages and urinary incontinence - a secondary analysis of the Women's Health Initiative Observational Study

Nancy E. Ringel, Kathleen M. Hovey, Chris A. Andrews, Yasmin Mossavar-Rahmani, Aladdin H. Shadyab, Linda G. Snetselaar, Barbara V. Howard, Cheryl B. Iglesia

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

2 Scopus citations

Abstract

Objective The aim of this study was to determine if higher artificially sweetened beverage intake is associated with higher prevalence of urinary incontinence symptoms. Methods We conducted a secondary analysis of data from the Women's Health Initiative Observational Study. Our analytic cohort included 80,388 women. Participants who answered questions about beverage consumption and urinary incontinence symptoms at a 3-year follow-up visit were included. Demographic characteristics were compared between three groups of beverage consumers: never to less than one serving per week, one to six servings per week, and greater than or equal to one serving per day. Multivariable logistic regression models were constructed to estimate odds and type of urinary incontinence and adjust for potential confounders. Results Most participants (64%) were rare consumers of artificially sweetened beverages, with 13% (n = 10,494) consuming greater than or equal to 1 serving per day. The unadjusted odds of reporting urinary incontinence were 10% to 12% higher in women consuming one to six servings per week (odds ratio [OR], 1.10; 95% CI, 1.06-1.14) or greater than or equal to one serving per day (OR, 1.12; 95% CI, 1.07-1.18) versus never to less than one serving per week. In multivariable analyses, women consuming greater than or equal to one serving per day (ref: never to <1 serving/wk) had 10% higher odds of reporting mixed urinary incontinence (OR, 1.10; 95% CI, 1.02-1.19). There were no significant differences for stress or urgency urinary incontinence symptoms between groups. Conclusions When compared to never to less than one serving per week, women consuming greater than or equal to one serving per day of artificially sweetened beverages had 10% greater odds of reporting mixed urinary incontinence after adjustments. Amount of artificially sweetened beverage consumption was not associated with stress or urgency urinary incontinence symptoms.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)283-288
Number of pages6
JournalMenopause
Volume30
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - Mar 1 2023

Keywords

  • Artificial sweeteners
  • Artificially sweetened beverages
  • Incontinence
  • Mixed incontinence
  • Stress incontinence
  • Urinary incontinence

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Obstetrics and Gynecology

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