A new study from Sorbonne Paris Nord University has found that artificial sweeteners, including Aspartame, Acesulfam-K, and Sucralose, can significantly increase the risk of cancer. The study, which was published in the journal PLOS Medicine, analyzed the food intake of 103,000 French adults between 2009 and 2021, documenting their consumption of sweeteners with 24-hour dietary records. The researchers found that an increased consumption of Aspartame and Acesulfam-K raised the risk of cancer by an average of 13%, with some cancers, such as breast cancer, showing a much higher risk increase of 22%. Additionally, the risk of all cancers related to obesity, such as stomach and colon cancer, was significantly increased by the high consumption of sweeteners.
Despite some limitations in the study, such as the inability to verify if participants accurately and completely filled out their questionnaires, the lead researcher and nutrition epidemiologist, Mathilde Touvier, stated that “the investigation shows us that artificial sweeteners cannot be considered a safe alternative to sugar.” Touvier called for a reduction in the consumption of sweet foods and for fewer products with sugar or sweeteners to be offered in stores. The most commonly consumed sweeteners among adults were found to be Aspartame, Sucralose, and Acesulfam-K, with Aspartame having the highest percentage of consumption at 58%.
Consumers can avoid these sweeteners by avoiding products that contain the following ingredients, which are often found in sugar-free, reduced-sugar, or low-calorie products: Aspartame, Acesulfam-K, Sucralose. These sweeteners are frequently found in products marketed as sugar-free, reduced-sugar, or low-calorie. The study’s findings suggest that reducing the consumption of sweet foods and avoiding products with artificial sweeteners may help reduce the risk of cancer.
