WASHINGTON, Feb. 16 (Xinhua) -- A new study has found that artificially sweetened beverages (ASBs) could lead to vascular diseases.

Drinking more than two ASBs a day could increase the risk of all types of stroke, according to the study published Thursday in the journal Stroke.

The result was based on an analysis of more than 80,000 women in the United States, as some other cohort studies of different U.S. populations also suggested the possible hazardousness of ASBs.

"In women with no prior history of cardiovascular disease or diabetes mellitus, high consumption of ASB was associated with more than a two-fold increased risk of small artery occlusion ischemic stroke hazard ratio," the study said.

It warned overweight women in particular about drinking a lot of ASBs, which could significantly increase their risk of ischemic stroke.

The study still lacks replication to assure its findings, while the researchers didn't identify which type of artificial sweetener is harmful.