The harmful effects of added sugars have long been established for many chronic diseases, resulting in food companies using artificial sweeteners in a wide range of foods and beverages consumed daily by millions of people around the world. However, their use has come under increased scrutiny in recent years, although study findings are mixed about their role in various diseases. Their role in cardiovascular disease has previously been suggested in experimental studies, but data from human studies were limited and previous observational studies focused exclusively on artificially sweetened beverages used as substitutes. Now, findings from a large-scale prospective cohort study suggest a possible direct link between higher consumption of artificial sweeteners and increased risk of cardiovascular disease. “Our results indicate that these food additives, consumed daily by millions of people and present in thousands of foods and beverages, should not be considered a healthy and safe alternative to sugar, according to the current position of many health agencies,” the researchers wrote. in the BMJ. In the study, in 103,000 French adults, artificial sweeteners were associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular, cerebrovascular and coronary disease. “The results suggest that artificial sweeteners may represent a modifiable risk factor for cardiovascular disease prevention,” they wrote. The research, led by experts from Sorbonne University Paris Nord, looked at the intake of sweeteners from all dietary sources, including drinks, table sweeteners and dairy products, and compared it with the risk of heart or circulatory disease. Participants had an average age of 42 and four out of five were women. Sweetener intake was monitored using diet records. Participants recorded everything they ate, including the brand, for 24 hours, with their food diary repeated three times at six-month intervals – twice on weekdays and once at the weekend. About 37% of them consumed artificial sweeteners. During an average follow-up period of about a decade, 1,502 cardiovascular events were recorded, including heart attacks, seizures, mini-strokes and angina pectoris. Consumption of artificial sweeteners was linked to a 9% higher risk of cardiovascular disease, the BMJ reported. When the researchers looked at specific types of disease, they found that consumption of artificial sweeteners was linked to an 18% higher risk of cerebrovascular disease – conditions that affect blood flow to the brain. One particular type of sweetener – aspartame – was associated with a 17% increased risk of cerebrovascular events, while acesulfame potassium and sucralose were associated with an increased risk of coronary heart disease. The study was observational, so it cannot determine the cause, nor rule out the possibility that other unknown factors may have influenced the results. However, the researchers said, it was a large study that assessed artificial sweetener intake using accurate, high-quality dietary data, and the findings were consistent with other studies linking artificial sweeteners to indicators of poor health. Further studies are needed, they said.
