They were already suspected of cause cancer. Sweeteners could also promote cardiovascular disease. This is what emerges from a study by Inserm, Inrae, Cnam and Sorbonne Paris Nord University published this Thursday, September 8 in the British Medical Journal.
For 12 years, scientists have studied the food consumption of 103,388 adult volunteers to participate in the study. “Those who initially consumed more sweeteners had, over time, a greater risk of developing cardiovascular disease”noted Doctor Mathilde Touvier, director of research at Inserm and coordinator of the study.
Risks with drinks but also food
Sweeteners, used to replace sugar, are found in many drinks, but also in sweets, so-called “light” yogurts and light dishes in general. The link had already been established between the consumption of drinks with sweeteners, aspartame in particular, and the risk of heart attack, hypertension or stroke. Researchers show in this study that this could also concern food.
All this is conditional, because the researchers have not yet established only an “association”, no causal link yet. “Consuming sweeteners from time to time will not be dangerous for your health. The recommendations of the health authorities are to try to limit the sweet taste in the diet overall, so both sugar and aspartame”emphasizes Mathilde Touvier.
Researchers now hope understand which mechanisms sweeteners trigger in the human body.