Artificial sweeteners may not be safe sugar substitutes: linked to increased cancer risk

Artificial sweeteners reduce added sugars and corresponding calories while maintaining sweetness

Millions of people consume many foods and beverages that contain artificial sweeteners every day

The researchers found that participants who consumed high amounts of artificial sweeteners, particularly aspartame and acesulfame-K, had a higher overall risk of cancer compared with non-consumers (hazard ratio 1.

This study had several important limitations; dietary intake was self-reported

According to the authors, "Our findings do not support the use of artificial sweeteners in food or beverages as a safe substitute for sugar, and provide important and novel information to resolve debates about their potential adverse health effects

Debras added: "Results from the NutriNet-Santé cohort (n=102,865) suggest that artificial sweeteners, found in many food and beverage brands around the world, may be associated with increased cancer risk in several in vivo/in vitro studies.

Reference: “Artificial sweeteners and cancer risk: Results from the NutriNet-Santé population-based cohort study” by Charlotte Debras, Eloi Chazelas, Bernard Srour, Nathalie Druesne-Pecollo, Younes Esseddik, Fabien Szabo de Edelenyi, Cédric Agaësse, Alexandre De Sa, Rebecca Lutchia, Stéphane Gigandet, Inge Huybrechts, Chantal Julia, Emmanuelle Kesse-Guyot, Benjamin Allès, Valentina A.