POPULAR fizzy drinks might increase men’s ball size, a new study suggests.
Chinese researchers found that Coca-Cola and Pepsi raised testosterone levels and increased genital size in male mice.
Fizzy drinks like coke can break down the protective coating of some drugs to disrupt how much is released into the bodyGetty – Contributor
The paper appears to contradict previous research which suggests fizzy drinks can have a negative effect on testosterone levels.
However, the experts pointed out that drinking lots of pop can increase people’s risk of several long term conditions like obesity, diabetes and cancer.
The drinks could also have a negative effect on female fertility.
A previous study found the drink shrank female ovaries in mice.
The latest research, published in journal Acta Endocrinol. tested the effects of the two fizzy drinks on over 100 mice for 15 days.
Some mice were kept in cages with Coke and others with Pepsi – at different concentration levels.
And a separate group of mice was used as a control and given pure water.
The mass of the mice’s testicles was significantly higher in the groups that drank Coca-Cola and high concentrations of Pepsi than the control group.
The mice who were given pure Coca-Cola and Pepsi also had higher levels of the male hormone than the control group.
“The outcomes demonstrated a high dose of Pepsi or Coca-Cola could promote testis growth and development,” the authors wrote.
The long-term effects of fizzy drinks on testicle mass and testosterone production are also unclear.
Penis size
A separate study has found the average length of a penis has grown by 25 per cent in the past 30 years.
From 1992 to 2021, the average erect member jumped from 4.8inches to 6inches, analysis from US experts found.
However, while you might think this could only be a good thing for men, medics are concerned at the findings.
Writing in the World Journal of Men’s Health, the team at Stanford University said the increase in size could be down to poor diets, sedentary lifestyles and chemicals.
They said these factors could also have a negative impact on fertility.