The country’s most popular soft drinks can polish the parts other drinks can’t – by giving men bigger testicles and making them more masculine, a study suggests.
Research on mice showed that adult men who drank Coca-Cola or Pepsi had higher levels of testosterone and larger genitalia than their counterparts.
The unusual finding appears to contradict previous studies which have shown that sugary drinks and processed foods make men less fertile.
However, there is evidence that high caffeine intake can increase testosterone production in the body, leading to greater sperm production and larger testicles.
“The results indicated that a high dose of Pepsi-Cola or Coca-Cola can promote testicular growth and development,” says the study.
After 15 days, the control group’s testosterone concentration was about 23 nanomoles (nmol) per liter, while the groups that drank straight Coca-Cola and Pepsi had a concentration of about 30 nmol/L.
Experts do not suggest that men should run out and drink a lot of Coca-Cola or Pepsi. Previous studies have linked sugary sodas to numerous health problems, including obesity, diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure and tooth decay.
Experts from Northwest Minzu University in China wanted to show that sugary soft drinks are bad for male fertility.
They cited previous research that showed fizzy drinks had negative effects on a woman’s ovaries.
A group of 30 male mice were housed in a cage and their water bottle was filled with 50 percent Pepsi mixed with tap water.
Another 30 mice were housed in another cage and fed pure Pepsi.
The same was done for two groups of mice, but with Coca-Cola. A fifth group was used as a control and received pure water.
All mice could drink as much as they wanted for 15 days.
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The mass of the testis of the mice was measured on days zero, five, seven, 10, 13 and 15.
On day 15, the testicular mass of the mice in the groups that drank Coca-Cola and 100 percent Pepsi was significantly greater than in the 50 percent Pepsi and control groups.
“The results indicated that a high dose of Pepsi-Cola or Coca-Cola can promote testicular growth and development,” says the study.
Testosterone levels were also recorded and levels appeared to improve towards the end of the study.
On days 10 and 15, the group that drank straight Pepsi had significantly higher testosterone concentrations than the control group.
After 15 days, the control group’s testosterone concentration was about 23 nanomoles (nmol) per liter, while the groups that drank straight Coca-Cola and Pepsi had a concentration of about 30 nmol/L.
The mice given straight Coca-Cola also had higher levels of the male hormone than the control group.
The results suggest that large doses of Pepsi and Coca-Cola can enhance testosterone production in male mice.
However, the mice used in the study are non-copulatory, meaning they do not mate.
The long-term effects of carbonated beverages on testicular mass and testosterone production are also unclear.
The results were published in the scientific journal Acta Endocrinol.
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Crystal Leahy is an author and health journalist who writes for The Fashion Vibes. With a background in health and wellness, Crystal has a passion for helping people live their best lives through healthy habits and lifestyles.
