Q. Is it true that drinking sodas like Coke or Pepsi can cause arthritis?
A. High sugar intake increases inflammation in the body and thus increases the risk for joint problems. There was an article in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition titled, "Sugar-sweetened soda consumption and risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis in women." The conclusion of the article: "Regular consumption of sugar-sweetened soda, but not diet soda, is associated with increased risk of seropositive rheumatoid arthritis in women, independent of other dietary and lifestyle factors."