Risks of artificial sweeteners
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created on 4/21/17 @ 02:32AM, updated on 8/6/20 @ 02:08PM
Summary
According to the Mayo Clinic:
"Artificial sweeteners have been scrutinized intensely for decades. Critics of artificial sweeteners say that they cause a variety of health problems, including cancers...[b]ut according to the National Cancer Institute and other health agencies, there's no sound scientific evidence that any of the artificial sweeteners approved for use in the U.S. cause cancer or other serious health problems. And numerous research studies confirm that artificial sweeteners are generally safe in limited quantities, even for pregnant women...Artificial sweeteners are regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as food additives. They must be reviewed and approved by the FDA before being made available for sale."
https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/in-depth/artificial-sweeteners/art-20046936
This is a good generalization of the risk of artificial sweeteners, especially in terms of cancer risk. However, there are growing concerns between the links between common artificial sweeteners and diseases like stroke, dementia, and Alzheimer's disease. [Sugar- and Artificially Sweetened Beverages and the Risks of Incident Stroke and Dementia [2017, Matthew P. Pase]]
The risks must also be weighed against the potential benefits of a low calorie diet. Research suggests reduction in obesity rates may not be a given. [The Association Between Artificial Sweeteners and Obesity [2017, Michelle Pearlman]] [Artificial sweeteners induce glucose intolerance by altering the gut microbiota [2014, Jotham Suez]]
It's also important to note the time scale of these sweeteners. Apsartame/NutraSweet came onto the market in 1965. Sucralose/Splenda came onto the market in 1999. Mogroside wasn't approved by the FDA until 2010. Long term side effects won't be seen in some products for decades, especially for diseases that occur later in life.
As with any general health and food topic, the devil is in the details. Both the scale and types of artificial sweeteners and risks mean there will always be new experiments and questions with new types of sweeteners. This category of risks is simply too broad to make a conclusive opinion.
see more"Artificial sweeteners have been scrutinized intensely for decades. Critics of artificial sweeteners say that they cause a variety of health problems, including cancers...[b]ut according to the National Cancer Institute and other health agencies, there's no sound scientific evidence that any of the artificial sweeteners approved for use in the U.S. cause cancer or other serious health problems. And numerous research studies confirm that artificial sweeteners are generally safe in limited quantities, even for pregnant women...Artificial sweeteners are regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as food additives. They must be reviewed and approved by the FDA before being made available for sale."
https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/in-depth/artificial-sweeteners/art-20046936
This is a good generalization of the risk of artificial sweeteners, especially in terms of cancer risk. However, there are growing concerns between the links between common artificial sweeteners and diseases like stroke, dementia, and Alzheimer's disease. [Sugar- and Artificially Sweetened Beverages and the Risks of Incident Stroke and Dementia [2017, Matthew P. Pase]]
The risks must also be weighed against the potential benefits of a low calorie diet. Research suggests reduction in obesity rates may not be a given. [The Association Between Artificial Sweeteners and Obesity [2017, Michelle Pearlman]] [Artificial sweeteners induce glucose intolerance by altering the gut microbiota [2014, Jotham Suez]]
It's also important to note the time scale of these sweeteners. Apsartame/NutraSweet came onto the market in 1965. Sucralose/Splenda came onto the market in 1999. Mogroside wasn't approved by the FDA until 2010. Long term side effects won't be seen in some products for decades, especially for diseases that occur later in life.
As with any general health and food topic, the devil is in the details. Both the scale and types of artificial sweeteners and risks mean there will always be new experiments and questions with new types of sweeteners. This category of risks is simply too broad to make a conclusive opinion.
Sources
Comments
This conference paper is making the rounds, we need a way to integrate this info into our research found: http://www.counton2.com/news/2-your-health/2-your-health-artificial-sweeteners-linked-to-obesity-and-diabetes-mice-study-suggests/1135186033?utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook_WCBD_News_2
An article from Harvard Health Publications: http://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/artificial-sweeteners-sugar-free-but-at-what-cost-201207165030