A few months ago, Inserm researchers demonstrated that people who consume the most sweeteners (in particular aspartame and acesulfame-K) had a higher risk of developing cancer, all types of cancers confused. In a new study, published in the British medical journal, researchers from Inserm, INRAE, Cnam and Sorbonne Paris Nord University, suggest an association between the general consumption of sweeteners and an increased risk of cardiovascular illnesses.
“The deleterious effects of added sugars have been established for several chronic diseases, which has led food industries to use artificial sweeteners as alternatives in a wide range of foods and beverages. However, the safety of artificial sweeteners makes the subject of debate and the data remain contrasting as to their role in the onset of various diseases” they recall before adding “while the increased risk of cardiovascular disease associated with the consumption of sweetened beverages has been suggested by Several epidemiological studies, none had, until now, been interested in the exposure to artificial sweeteners as a whole, and not only to the drinks which contain them. multitude of low-fat foods”.
Risks with aspartame, acesulfame-K and sucralose
Based on the data provided by more than 100,000 French adults participating in the NutriNet-Santé study and on the diagnoses of cardiovascular diseases during the follow-up period (2009-2021), Inserm researchers have carried out statistical analyzes to investigate the associations between the consumption of sweeteners and participants’ risk of cardiovascular disease, they found that the consumption of sweeteners was associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, and specifically cerebrovascular. Regarding types of sweeteners, aspartame was more closely associated with the risk of cerebrovascular disease and acesulfame-K and sucralose with the risk of coronary heart disease.
“This large-scale study suggests, in agreement with several other epidemiological studies on sweetened beverages, that sweeteners used in many foods and beverages may represent an increased risk factor for cardiovascular disease” concludes Charlotte Debras, lead author of the study. ‘study.
Source : Artificial sweeteners and risk of cardiovascular diseases: results from the prospective NutriNet-Santé cohortBritish medical journal, September 2022
