According to French researchers, these sweeteners, which are often found in low-calorie foods and drinks, “should not be considered a truly healthy and safe alternative to sugar.”
The list of possible health problems due to artificial sweeteners, which already includes diabetes, obesity, high blood pressure and more, is likely to be expanded, as a major new French scientific study links some of these popular sugar substitutes with increased risk of cardiovascular disease.
Researchers from the French National Institute for Health and Medical Research (INSERM) and the University of Paris Sorbonne Paris Nord, who made the relevant publication in the British medical journal “British Medical Journal” (BMJ), concluded that the sweeteners in question, the which are often found in low-calorie foods and beverages, “should not be considered a really healthy and safe alternative to sugar». It was found that the higher the total consumption of artificial sweeteners, the greater the overall cardiovascular risk.
The study, which analyzed eating habits 103,338 people with an average age of 42, focused on sweeteners such as aspartame, sucralose and acesulfame potassium, coming from all kinds of food sources. 37% of participants consumed such substances with an average amount of 42 milligrams per day. Younger, heavier, smokers and less physically active people, who generally eat less fruit and vegetables but more processed meats, dairy and drinks, were found to have the highest use of sweeteners.
During the next nine years, 1,502 cardiovascular events were recorded, such as heart attack, angina, stroke, etc. Overall consumption of artificial sweeteners was estimated to be associated with a 9% increased risk of cardiovascular disease. In particular, aspartame was found to be associated with a 17% increased risk of stroke, while sucralose and acesulfame potassium were associated with a greater likelihood of coronary heart disease.
The global market for artificial sweeteners is estimated to have reached $7.2 billion in 2021 and is expected to grow to $9.7 billion by 2027. However, despite their widespread use, these substances remain controversial, according to French scientists . They pointed out that this was an observational study that found an association and not a cause-and-effect relationship between sweeteners and cardiovascular risk, so it cannot be ruled out that other factors may play a role. That is why they emphasized the need to do further studies on this topic.
See the scientific publication here
RES-EMP
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