Don't expect much from vitamins in soft drinks

Don’t expect much from vitamins in soft drinks

When you’re mixing up a batch of Diet Coke Plus, you’ll need some aspartame, of course, some carbonated water, caramel color, potassium benzoate, caffeineand a small handful of vitamins.

And when I say small, I mean really small. According to the Diet Coke web site, Diet Coke Plus contains a scant 10 percent of your RDI for zinc and magnesium, and just 15 percent of your RDI for niacin, B6, and B12.

But don’t bother yourself too much about the vitamins. According to one expert, mixing vitamins with all that other junk is pretty much the same as throwing them away.

Ara DerMarderosian, Ph.D., of the University of the Sciences in Philadelphia told United Press International that water-soluble vitamins break down in carbonation, which is mildly acidic, and this would happen fairly quickly when the soda was in transit and not refrigerated.

But please don’t call Diet Coke Plus a “soda.” According to the New York Times, the folks at Coca-Cola prefer their vitamin-fortified products to be thought of as “sparkling beverages.” Apparently consumers have somehow gotten the crazy idea that sodas and soft drinks contribute to obesity.

Maybe in a few years consumers will catch on, and when they hear “sparkling” they’ll think “obesity.”

Nope, says Coca-Cola’s chief executive, E. Neville Isdell, who told a conference last year: “Diet and light brands are actually health and wellness brands.”

Right. Aspartame, potassium benzoate, and a handful of rapidly deteriorating vitamins – it’s the new health and wellness – Coca-cola style!

Sources:
“Effect of Vitamins in Soda Questioned” United Press International, 2/11/08, upi.com
“Makers of Sodas Try a New Pitch: They’re Healthy” Andrew Martin, The New York Times, 3/7/07, nytimes.com