It's the official sports drink of the FA Premier League, theEngland Rugby Football Union and the British Athletics Federation -but, according to new research, it rots your teeth.
Lucozade Sport, for which Newcastle and England striker AlanShearer has just signed an advertising contract reputedly worthpounds 1.5m, can leave teeth seriously corroded because of its highacidity and sugar, according to a report in the British Journal ofSports Medicine.
The drink is the leading brand of 'isotonic' sports drinks,which claim to restore to normal levels bodily fluids and mineralslost through exercise. Launched in 1991, it has been promoted bysome of British sport's biggest names, including Liverpoolfootballer John Barnes and sprinter Linford Christie. It has gained96 per cent of a market worth pounds 18.5m annually in the UK.But a study of eight sports drinks by Dr Alex Milosevic, of thedepartment of clinical dental sciences at Liverpool University,shows that regular use of sports drinks can soften and decay teeth.According to Dr Milosevic's tests, all eight drinks in the study -Lucozade Sport (lemon), Lucozade Sport (orange) Carbolode,Gatorade, High 5, Isotar, Maxim, and PSP 22 - were above the normal'safe' acidity level. Drinks with a lot of citric acid were likelyto be more erosive, and the more 'sticky' the drink, the greaterthe chances of erosion. In the study, the high acidity of LucozadeSport made it 'potentially the most erosive'.In one case, a 23-year-old cross-country and marathon runner whohad been using sports drinks regularly for a year found that theenamel of his upper teeth had been eroded to reveal the tissueunderneath (known as dentine). The man had few fillings, whichsuggested he did care for his teeth.'Dental decay is caused by dental plaque, a bacterial film onthe tooth surface which ferments carbohydrates producing acidicbyproducts,' said Dr Milosevic. 'But dental erosion is caused bylow pH {high acidity} from sources in the diet, or from gastricacid being brought back up from the stomach.'Dr Milosevic suggests people should avoid sipping or swishingsuch liquids around the mouth and that they should use a straw orless erosive chilled drinks. Anyone frequently using sports drinksshould have regular dental check-ups. With early detection, thesymptoms can be treated fairly simply and severe erosion prevented.For the cross-country runner, Dr Milosevic requested treatmentto improve the appearance and reduce the sensitivity of the man'steeth - achieved by providing composite veneers for the palate ofhis mouth, which were bonded to the teeth with adhesive resins.Most sports drinks are mainly carbohydrate, usually glucose,maltose or dextrose. Sports players who do not maintain a goodstandard of plaque control, with frequent use of fluoridetoothpaste stand a greater chance of dental decay.Dr Lynne Smith, director of corporate affairs for SmithKlineBeecham, Lucozade's parent company, said the study did not prove aconclusive link between sports drinks and tooth erosion. 'Theauthor says erosion cannot be attributed exclusively to sportsdrinks and that fresh fruit juices and carbonated water also causeerosion,' she said. She added that Lucozade Sport in a pouchcontained a straw and that 'serve chilled' was printed on the pack.SmithKline Beecham has a sponsorship deal with each of the threesports bodies - the Premier League, the RFU and the BAF - but aspokesman declined to give financial details. The company has had asponsorship arrangement with the Premier League since 1992. Apartfrom Manchester United, it also has individual deals with allmembers clubs, providing the drink free to players for use intraining sessions and matches.
