In a study from the University of Manitoba, scientists found artificial sweeteners may be linked to long-term weight gain and increased risk of obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease.
Artificial sweetener is a sugar substitute is a food additive that provides a sweet taste like that of sugar while containing significantly less food energy than sugar-based sweeteners, making it a zero-calorie or low-calorie sweetener.
Consumption of artificial sweeteners, such as aspartame, sucralose and stevia, is widespread and increasing.
Aspartame is one of the most popular artificial sweeteners, adding sweetness to diet sodas, desserts, cereals, and many other foods and beverages.
Emerging evidence indicates that artificial, or nonnutritive, sweeteners may have negative effects on metabolism, gut bacteria and appetite, although the evidence is conflicting.
In the study, the team aimed to better understand whether consuming artificial sweeteners is associated with negative long-term effects on weight and heart disease.
They conducted a systematic review of 37 studies that followed over 400 000 people for an average of 10 years.
Only 7 of these studies were randomized controlled trials, involving 1003 people followed for 6 months on average.
The trials did not show a consistent effect of artificial sweeteners on weight loss.
The longer studies showed a link between consumption of artificial sweeteners and relatively higher risks of weight gain and obesity, high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease and other health issues.
The team says given the widespread and increasing use of artificial sweeteners, and the current epidemic of obesity and related diseases, more research is needed to determine the long-term risks and benefits of these products.
If you care about weight loss, please read studies about exercise that has unique benefits for weight loss, and these eating habits could cause too much weight gain.
For more information about wellness, please see recent studies about new guidance for exercise in type 2 diabetes, and results showing vitamin D3 could help people fight COVID-19 and other infections.
The study was conducted by Dr. Ryan Zarychanski et al and published in Canadian Medical Association Journal.
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