Diet Coke Plus has vitamins - wistv.com - Columbia, South Carolina |

NATIONAL (NBC) - There's growing evidence that soda lovers don't have the healthiest habits. A study by Yale University found the typical soda drinker consumes less milk and gets less calcium. But what if you could have your soda and still get your vitamins, too?

There will soon be something new on the soda aisle. The Coca-Cola company is rolling out Diet Coke Plus. It's the same old soda with a little something extra: vitamins.

Adding vitamins and antioxidants is a hot trend among soda makers.

Beverage World Magazine reports the trend started a few years back with juice makers adding everything from anitoxidants in green tea to omega three fatty acids.

And a Dallas brewer even started sell beer with vitamins more than a year ago.

Dietician Jo Ann Carson says, "If you're adding to something like a Diet Coke, you've added a little bit of nutrition to something that was basically inocuous beforehand."

Eight ounces of Diet Coke Plus has 15% of the niacin, B6 and B12 you need in a day. And 10% of the zinc and magnesium.

Some soda lovers sampled the new soda.

One person who tried it said it tasted better than regular Diet Coke.  Another person said they couldn't' taste the difference, but if you get a little extra with it, why not?  Another tester said they would buy it.

Diet Coke Plus won't be the only vitamin added soft drink. Pepsi will introduce its own version in the fall.

USA Today reports the healthy drinks come as soda makers try to boost falling sales among some of the most popular brands.

Carson says, "If you're going to drink a diet beverage, having one with some vitamins in it is fine. You're better off getting your nutrients from whole foods. Have a glass of skim milk."

Diet Coke Plus will first appear in New York and Los Angeles in sleek silver cans to commemorate the launch.

Posted by Bryce Mursch