While sweeteners are widely considered good alternatives to sugar, especially for people who suffer from diabetes and are overweight, these products can also have dangerous health effects. In particular, a new study has shown that artificial sweeteners increase the risk of developing cancer.
A 22% higher risk of developing cancer
The artificial sweeteners are chemicals added to certain foods and drinks to give them a sweet taste. They can also come in various forms for home use. Generally speaking, these artificial sweeteners are used to provide a taste similar to that of sugar, but without the carbohydrate and calorie content of sugar. For this reason, but also because a tiny amount of sweetener is enough to sweeten foods and drinks, this product has become very popular among consumers and manufacturers.
Yet the benefits of artificial sweeteners may be outweighed by their negative health effects. Indeed, there are long-standing debates about the harmful effects of sweeteners, including possible links between these products and the risks of developing a cancer. If opinions differ on the subject, a new study led by researchers from the Sorbonne Paris Nord University and INSERM has shown that the link between artificial sweeteners and cancer is very real.
Specifically, the results of the study published in the journal PLOS Medicine showed that those who consume any type of artificial sweetener have up to a 22% increased chance of developing cancer compared to those who do not. The scientists also clarified that aspartame and acesulfame potassium – sweeteners widely used in so-called “light” drinks – presented higher risks compared to other types of sweeteners. In contrast, sucralose seemed to be less associated with cancer. The researchers also found that the risks increased with the amount of sweetener consumed.
A study that divides the scientific community
To reach this conclusion, the researchers analyzed data from 102,865 individuals who participated in the study. NutriNet-Health, launched in 2009 and still ongoing. This notably made it possible to collect information concerning the medical history, socio-demographic data, diet, lifestyle and health of the participants. Information about the consumption of artificial sweeteners was gleaned from information about their eating habits. These data were then linked with cancer diagnoses within the cohort. The researchers also took into account certain factors relevant to cancer risk, such as age, smoking, poor diet and lack of physical activity.
Faced with the results of their study, the researchers concluded that artificial sweeteners are not good substitutes for sugar, even if they do not exclude the possibility of a bias linked to consumer lifestyle. ” 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. said Dr. Mathilde Touvier, coordinator of the study, in a statement.
Even if the study seems to provide strong evidence on an association between artificial sweeteners and cancer, the results remain controversial and therefore not unanimous. In particular, scientists have argued that the study indeed establishes an association and not a causal link between artificial sweeteners and cancer. In other words, they consider that this study is not sufficient to prove that sweeteners can really cause cancer, reported AFP, relayed by France24.