Researchers from Inserm, Inrae, Sorbonne Paris Nord University and Cnam have carried out a study which reveals a greater risk of cancer for people who consume products containing aspartame or acesulfame-K, above the recommended average, ie 17.44 mg/day for men and 19 mg/day for women. From 2009 to 2021, the 102,865 people contacted declared their eating habits, including names and brands of products consumed, but also their medical history, lifestyle and physical activity. Products containing sweeteners such as light sodas, yoghurts or sweets are mainly consumed to counter the caloric intake of sugar, while preserving its taste. “Aspartame has an energy value equivalent to sugar, ie 4 kcal/g, but its sweetening power is 200 times higher”, indicates EREN in its press release.
A high risk at 13%
The results published by the journal PLOS Medicine show that these food additives would increase the risk of developing cancer by 13% in a person who consumes them beyond the recommended limit. The risk concerns all types of cancer, higher for breast cancer and those linked to obesity. “These findings do not support the use of sweeteners as safe alternatives to sugar and provide new insights to address controversies over their potential adverse health effects,” says EREN. This study will need to be complemented by further research to confirm the link between sweeteners and cancer.
