Carbonated beverage consumption is associated with lower C-peptide in adolescents

Background Too much consumption of carbonated beverages increases the risk of diabetes. Insulin deficiency and the body's decreased sensitivity to insulin cause diabetes. C-peptide can assess a person's own insulin secretion. The decrease of C-peptide is closely related to the occurrence of diabetes and its chronic complications. The present study assessed the effect of carbonated beverages on C-peptide in adolescents and analyzed the correlation between C-peptide and the drinking index (DI). Methods The subjects investigated including 463 adolescents were divided into a carbonated beverages group, a non-carbonated beverages group and a control group. The general demographic characteristics, beverage consumption status, physical activity and family history of hypertension and diabetes were interviewed with a questionnaire designed by us. All the subjects maintained their original lifestyle and received the oral glucose tolerance test. Various biochemical indicators and C-peptides were detected in these three groups. The data were analyzed by statistical analysis, and multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to examine the risk factors related to C-peptide. Results Blood glucose, blood lipid, liver function and renal function had no statistically significant difference among the three groups. C-peptide levels were lower in the carbonated beverages group and the non-carbonated beverages group than in the control group. Compared to the non-carbonated beverages group, there was a significant decrease in C-peptide levels in the carbonated beverages group. Logistic analysis demonstrated that DI was negatively correlated with C-peptide levels when the physical activity was adjusted. The odds ratio (OR) (OR = 2.540, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.121-5.752) value difference was statistically significant at a stratification level of DI ≥ 6. Conclusions The C-peptide of adolescents was affected by the long-term consumption of beverages, and the effect of carbonated beverages was even more obvious. DI ≥ 6 bottle-years was a risk factor for diabetes, and we can constitute prevention and control measures accordingly so as to reduce the incidence of diabetes.