- A new study has found a link between artificial sweetener intake and heart disease and stroke.
- Artificial sweeteners were more particularly associated with the risk of cerebrovascular disease, such as stroke-related events, compared to coronary heart disease.
- Despite this new information, doctors do not recommend going back to added sugar in drinks or foods as an alternative to artificial sweeteners.
Artificial sweeteners can do you a lot more harm than good, especially when it comes to yours heart health.
A new study published in The BMJ investigated the relationship between artificial sweetener consumption and the risk of heart disease. The research, led by experts at Sorbonne Paris Nord University, looked at the consumption of sweeteners from all dietary sources, including drinks, table sweeteners and dairy products, and compared it with participants’ risk of coronary heart disease and cerebrovascular disease (a group of conditions that affect blood flow to the brain).
The researchers also looked at artificial sweeteners at the molecular level, looking at aspartame, acesulfame potassium and sucralose.
It’s no secret that many people use artificial sweeteners and sugar substitutes as low or no-calorie alternatives to sugar. They are found in thousands of products worldwide, especially in ultra-processed foods, such as artificially sweetened beverages (such as diet sodas), some low-calorie snacks and ready-to-eat meals.
The researchers analyzed data from 103,388 French participants whose average age was 42 and 80% were women. Dietary intake and consumption of artificial sweeteners were assessed using repeated self-reported 24-hour dietary records.
The study found that total artificial sweetener intake was associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. Artificial sweeteners were more particularly associated with the risk of cerebrovascular disease, compared to coronary heart disease.
Intake of aspartame, a specific type of artificial sweetener, was associated with an increased risk of cerebrovascular events, such as stroke. On the other hand, acesulfame potassium and sucralose, both different types of artificial sweeteners, were associated with an increased risk of coronary heart disease.
The researchers concluded that there is a possible direct association between consuming a large amount of artificial sweeteners (especially aspartame, acesulfame potassium and sucralose) and an increased risk of cardiovascular disease.
Although this study has many strengths, there are some limitations that should be noted. It is important to remember that no causal relationship can be established with the results of an observational study, so we can only state with confidence that there is a strong association and potential direct relationship between higher artificial sweetener consumption and greater risk of heart disease. Furthermore, since the research was conducted in a population of mostly women with higher education levels, it is likely that these data are not generalizable to the entire French population, as well as to the world population. Finally, given that the participants’ data were self-reported, there is a possibility that the information collected is not truly representative of all individuals’ health profiles.
It is also important to note that if any of the participants had a history of obesity or any other health condition that predisposed them to a higher risk of heart disease, the increased risk found in this study may not only attribute to a higher artificial sweetener. intake, explains Karen Aspry, MDco-chair of the American College of Cardiology Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease Section and Nutrition and Lifestyle Work Group.
The research team added that more studies are needed to confirm these results. In the meantime, international health agencies, such as the European Food Safety Authority and the World Health Organization, should consider the key insights provided by this study and reassess how artificial sweeteners are viewed in various food products.
Several studies have linked the intake of artificial sweeteners or artificially sweetened beverages to weight gain, high blood pressure, and inflammation in the past. But findings remain mixed on the role of artificial sweeteners in causing several diseases, including heart disease.
The bottom line
The harm from these artificially sweetened drinks and foods has relatively low harm to your health alone. However, drinking less of these processed drinks and foods is better for your overall health, says Dr. Aspry.
And for those of us with a sweet tooth, try to get your sweetness ratio from naturally sweet foods, like fruit, when you can. Sugary drinks can be a hard thing to drop in a day, but limit your use where you can, and your heart will thank you!
Madeleine, deputy editor of Prevention, has a history of writing about health based on her experience as an editorial assistant at WebMD and her personal research in college. He graduated from the University of Michigan with a BA in Biopsychology, Cognition and Neuroscience, and helps strategize for success on Prevention’s social media platforms.