Acesulfame-k and aspartame linked to cancer risk

A study published in Plos Medicine in which researchers from important French scientific institutions have participated, has reached the conclusion that there is a relationship between the high consumption of sweeteners (specifically acesulfame-k and aspartame) with a increased risk of cancer compared to non-consumers.

Acesulfame-k and aspartame are common sweeteners in soft drinks, in chocolates and candies that are labeled “sugar free” or “0% sugar.”

Artificial sweeteners and cancer risk

The researchers analyzed the records of 102,865 adults, who are participating in the ongoing NutriNet-Santé study, which began collecting data in 2009. For the new research, they followed the participants for an average of 7.8 years.

Lead author Charlotte Debras explains that people who consume more artificial sweeteners, with a mean intake of 79.43 mg per day (population mean 18 mg per day), they are at significantly higher risk of developing cancer compared to non-consumers.

The researchers note that it is not yet possible to establish a cause-and-effect relationship, although the data have been adjusted to rule out the influence of other factors, such as energy intake, alcohol, sodium, saturated fatty acids, fiber, sugar, whole foods, and dairy products.

The scientists’ intention was to analyze the relationship with cancer of a variety of sweeteners (acesulfame-K, aspartame, sucralose, cyclamates, saccharin, steviol glycosides, and aspartame-acesulfame salt), but they were only able to obtain statistical data useful for the study of the most consumed, the first three.

More studies on sweeteners are needed

When analyzing these three, no relationship was observed between sucralose and the risk of developing cancer. However, the main researcher, Mathilde Touvier, director of EREN, qualifies that perhaps the statistical power was not sufficient to detect associations for sucralose and for the rest of the sweeteners, which does not mean that its existence can be ruled out.

The findings are highly original, as no previous cohort study had directly investigated the association between the quantitative intake of artificial sweeteners per se, from all dietary sources, distinguishing the different types of sweeteners, and cancer risk.

Some observational studies had established a relationship between the consumption of artificially sweetened beverages and an increased risk of cancer, suggesting that the artificial sweeteners present in these types of beverages could play a role in the development of the disease. In addition, previous findings in animal models and in vitro/in vivo studies also suggested its carcinogenicity. These data motivated the new study.

Research published in Plos Medicine has had the participation of scientists from the Nutritional Epidemiology Research Team (EREN) of the French Institute for Medical and Health Research (INSERM), the Sorbonne Paris Nord University, the National Conservatory of Arts and Crafts (CNAM), and the National Institute of Research for Agriculture (INRAE).

Acesulfame-k and aspartame, two sweeteners with a long history of suspicion

Acesulfame-k (E-950): A study published in 2006 in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives He asked that the effect of the sweetener on health be studied more carefully, since the studies carried out with animals suggested a possible carcinogenicity and those that had been used to demonstrate its safety were of poor quality.Aspartame (E-951): It is also suspected of promoting a variety of diseases, including cancer, but studies are conflicting. One of the studies showing a possible carcinogenic effect was also published in Environmental Health Perspectives. Chemically it resembles peptides and hormones, so it could be a confounding factor in the body.

Scientific reference:

Charlotte Debras et al. Artificial sweeteners and cancer risk: Results from the NutriNet-Santé population-based cohort study.Plos Medicine.