Artificially sweetened drinks linked to risk of irregular heartbeat, study finds

The study also looked at added-sugar drinks and pure unsweetened juices. Photograph: Getty Images/iStockphoto

Consuming more than two liters of diet soda or other artificially sweetened drinks a week could increase the risk of a dangerous irregular heartbeat by 20% compared with people who drink none, according to a new study by researchers in China.

The study, from Shanghai, found that people who drink such beverages could be more susceptible to a condition known as atrial fibrillation.