A recent study suggests that popular soda brands like Coca-Cola and Pepsi might have a surprising effect on male health. According to research conducted on mice, adult males who consumed these drinks had higher testosterone levels and larger genitals compared to their peers who did not consume them.

Interestingly, this finding seems to contradict previous studies that have shown that sugary drinks and processed foods could have a negative impact on male fertility.

But there is some evidence that high caffeine intake can ramp up testosterone production in the body, which leads to greater sperm production and larger testes.

It’s important to note that experts are not recommending that men should consume large amounts of Coca-Cola or Pepsi based on this study. Previous research has linked sugary sodas to a range of health problems, including obesity, diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, and tooth decay.

A team of experts from Northwest Minzu University in China conducted this study to investigate the potential negative effects of sugary sodas on male fertility. Previous research had already demonstrated the negative impact of carbonated drinks on female ovaries.

In the study, 30 male mice were placed in a cage and given a water bottle containing 50 percent Pepsi mixed with tap water, while another 30 mice were given pure Pepsi. The same was done for two groups of mice with Coca-Cola. A fifth group was given pure water, serving as a control group. All the mice were allowed to drink as much as they wanted for 15 days.

The mass of the mice’s testicles was measured on days zero, five, seven, 10, 13 and 15.

On day 15, the mass of the mice’s testicles was significantly higher in the groups that drank Coca-Cola and 100 percent Pepsi, compared to the 50 percent Pepsi and control groups.

‘The outcomes demonstrated a high dose of Pepsi-Cola or Coca-Cola could promote testis growth and development,’ the study said.

Testosterone levels were also recorded, and concentrations were found to be enhanced at the end of the study.

On days 10 and 15, the group which drank pure Pepsi had significantly higher concentrations of testosterone than the control group.

After 15 days, the control group’s testosterone concentration was around 23 nanomoles (nmol) per liter, whereas the groups which drank pure Coca-Cola and Pepsi had a concentration that was roughly 30 nmol/L.

The mice who were allocated the pure 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 could improve testosterone production in male mice.

However, the mice used in the study are non-copulating, meaning they do not mate.

The long-term effects of carbonated drinks on testicle mass and testosterone production are also unclear.

The findings were published in the journal Acta Endocrinol.