Int J Diabetes & Metabolism (2006) 14: 110-111
Letter to the Editor
drinks or alcohol. Indeed, during hot seasons in the
Northern States of Nigeria, many Nigerians may drink more
than fifteen bottles of soft drinks a day to combat heat
waves.
Simple sugar and caloric contents of soft
drinks in Nigeria
GC Onyemelukwe1, AG Bakari1 and G. Ogbadu2.
This study was carried out to determine the sugar contents
as well as the caloric values of the different soft drinks
marketed in Nigeria. This information is essential in giving
dietary advice especially to those on special diets.
Department of Medicine, Ahmadu Bello University,
Teaching hospital, Zaria1, Department of Biochemistry,
Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria 2
Abstract
Background: Soft drinks are widely consumed in Nigeria
and it is generally believed that they contain large amounts
of sugars and therefore calories. However, there is as yet no
local study to define the composition of these drinks. This
information is essential in giving dietary advice, especially
in those on special diets. Objective: to study sugar and
caloric contents of soft drinks marketed in Nigeria.
Materials and methods: Six different brands of soft drinks
that are being marketed all over Nigeria were analysed for
their sugar (glucose, fructose and sucrose) and caloric
contents. Results: The sugar content per bottle ranges
between 3.29 to 7.70 grams per bottle with a caloric value
ranging between 13.2 and 30.8 kilocalories per bottle.
Conclusion: The implications of these findings are
discussed and it is proposed that soft drink manufacturers
indicate the caloric value of their products as well as
produce sugar free drinks in African countries. (Int J
Diabetes Metab 14: 110-111, 2006 )
Materials and Methods
Six brands of soft drinks (Coca Cola®, Fanta®, Sprite®, ,
Pepsi Cola®, Mirinda®, and a malt drink) were purchased
from a retail shop and analysed for total carbohydrate
glucose and fructose by colorimetry; after which the sucrose
contained in the soft drinks was hydrolysed to glucose and
fructose to estimate the sucrose content. Total available
carbohydrate was determined by the Clegg method and
reducing sugars were estimated by the method of Clarks and
Switzert as detailed in the brochure of Biochemistry
Department, Ahmadu Bello University Zaria 4.
The total available carbohydrate per bottle was calculated
and the calories contained in each bottle were calculated
assuming a gram of carbohydrate gives 4 kilocalories of
energy. The results are reported below.
Results
All the soft drinks analysed contained glucose, fructose and
sucrose in varying amounts. Table I shows the contents for
each product while Table 2 shows the caloric content per
bottle of the products,
Key words: Soft drinks, Calories, Simple sugars
Introduction
There is abundant evidence that environmental factors such
as sedentary life style and the rapid globalization or “Coca
Colonization” in populations of Pima Indians and in other
parts of the world has significantly contributed to the
observed increase in both the prevalence and incidence of
obesity and type-2 diabetes 1.
Table 1: Showing the sugar contents of the various soft
drinks
Sugar (grams per 100 ml)
s/no
1
Similarly, anecdotal evidence suggests a gradual shift from
the traditional high fibre diets to refined low fibre diets in
Nigeria and indeed in the whole of the developing world.
Consequently there is a parallel rise in the prevalence and
incidence of such diseases as diabetes mellitus, systemic
hypertension and obesity.
2
3
4
5
6
In the 1960s, for example, diabetes mellitus was said to be
rare in the African continent with prevalence rates of 0.5
percent or less 2. Current prevalence rates in South Africa
and North Africa are on the increase and in 1992, a Nigerian
prevalence rate of 2.8 percent was found by the Nigerian
National Expert Committee on Non-communicable diseases
with higher prevalence rates in urban compared to rural
areas3. With the gradual westernization of life styles in
Nigeria, there is a gradual increase in the number of soft
drink manufacturing companies and the traditional habit of
giving water to a visitor is now replaced by either soft
Soft
Drink
Coca
Cola
Fanta
Sprite
Pepsi
Cola
Mirinda
Malt
Drink
Glucose
Fructose
Sucrose
Total
0.22
0.67
1.31
2.20
0.42
0.20
0.17
0.70
0.60
0.58
1.20
0.68
0.81
2.32
1.48
1.56
0.22
0.22
0.54
0.50
0.95
1.13
1.71
1.85
Discussion
The data above show that the various soft drinks analyzed
contain significant amounts of refined sugars such as
glucose, fructose and sucrose which may serve as a source
of extra calories. Furthermore, ingestion of high levels of
simple sugars on a chronic basis could precipitate glucose
intolerance in susceptible individuals. Szanto and Yudkin
in 1969 demonstrated that a high fructose diet leads to
impairment of glucose tolerance and a concomitant rise in
110
GC Onyemelukwe et al
protection associations should encourage manufacturers to
indicate on their bottles the correct dietary contents of their
product to assist non-diabetic and diabetic consumers and
those concerned with health. The study of Van der Horst
and others in South Africa showed that diet (Pepsi Cola,
Fanta) drinks had no glucose, fructose or sucrose whereas
Coca-Cola liquid, orange liquid, and liquid grape had
glucose concentrations of 66.0 mol/L,131.0 mol/L, and
455.0 mol/L respectively; as well as
fructose in
concentrations of 62.0 mol/L , 280.0 mol/L, 694.0 mol/L
respectively and sucrose concentration of 251 mol/L, 80
mol/L and 10 mol/L) respectively.7. Such report of high
simple sugar contents as well as the findings of our studies
are essential to enable medical students, doctors and
diabetes educators to have the right information for advice
to patients who are already diabetic or who have the
potential and predisposition to develop diabetes mellitus.
Table 2: Caloric content per bottle of soft drink.*
s/no
1
2
3
4
5
6
•
•
Soft Drink
Volume
per
bottle
(ml)
Total CHO
Per bottle
Total
calorie
from CHO
per bottle
(Kcal)
30.80
26.92
13.16
18.08
19.84
22.22
Coca Cola 350
7.70
Fanta
290
6.73
Sprite
290
3.29
Pepsi Cola 290
4.52
Mirinda
290
4.96
Malt
300
5.55
Drink
a gram of carbohydrate yields 4 kilo-calories of energy.
CHO= carbohydrate
the fasting plasma insulin concentration5. Similarly, Beck
and Pederson6 demonstrated impaired cellular insulin
binding and insulin insensitivity in young healthy subjects
fed on high fructose diets while Cohen et al demonstrated
that overt diabetes mellitus can be precipitated in
susceptible rats fed on a high fructose diet 7.
References
1. Yki-Jarvinen H. Pathogenesis of non-insulin dependent
diabetes mellitus. Lancet 1994; 343: 91-95.
2 Adadevoh BK Endocrine pattern of the African;
clinico- biochemical Assessment. Trop Geog Med
1970; 22: 125-141.
2. The Nigerian National Expert Committee on non
communicable diseases. Report of a National Survey,
1992. Federal Ministry of Health, Lagos, Nigeria.
3. Methods for Biochemical determination; Brochure of
Department of Biochemistry, Ahmadu Bello
University, Zaria.
4. Szanto S, Yudkin J. The effect of dietary fructose on
blood lipids, serum insulin, platelet adhesiveness and
body weight in human volunteers. Post grad Med J
1969; 45: 602-607.
5. Beck-Wielsen H, Pederson O. Effects of diet on the
cellular insulin binding and insulin sensitivity in young
healthy subjects. Diabetologia 1978; 15: 289-296.
6. Cohen AM, Teitelbaum A, Roseman A. Diabetes
induced by a high fructose diet. Metabolism 1977; 26:
17-24.
7. Van der Horst G, Wesso I, Burgen AP, Dietrich DLC,
Grobler SR. Chemical analysis of cool drinks and pure
fruit juices - some chemical implications. S Afr Med J
1984; 66: 75-77.
In many African countries, including Nigeria, individuals
who abhor beer and other types of alcohol pride themselves
in taking soft drinks and malt drinks. In severe hot weather
in the Northern States of Nigeria, some children and adults
may drink as many as ten bottles of soft drink a day instead
of water; while low income workers, as well as office
workers, may drink three bottles or more a day
supplemented with leaves of bread. During periods of
aggressive promotion by the marketing companies of such
drinks, increases in drinking occur as promises of rich
rewards are made to the population. Besides the effect of
fructose noted above 6, 7, large quantities of simple sugars
with high caloric intake in soft drinks and malt drinks may
lead to and aggravate obesity, a known risk factor for
diabetes, hypertension and other non-communicable
diseases. The drive in western countries to replace
conventional soft drinks and other alternatives with sugarfree drinks should be extended to African countries because
of health implications. Perhaps, National Food and Drug
control agencies of developing countries and consumer
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