Sweeteners: what if they were carcinogenic?

Artificial sugars or sweeteners are everywhere in industrial food, including drinks. For many years, several studies have highlighted the adverse health effects of these additives. A new article sheds light on their link with the occurrence of cancer.

The food industry uses sugars artificial in many foods and beverages. The adverse health effects of sweeteners are increasingly well known. They would be involved in the occurrence of chronic diseases and cancers. The authors of a study published on March 24, 2022 in the journal PLOS Medicine investigated the link between consumption of synthetic sugars (aspartame E951, acesulfame-K E950, sucralose E955) and cancer risk in a group of more than 100,000 people. Aspartame, the best known of artificial sugars, has the same energy value as sugar but has a sweetening power 200 times higher: you just need to add very little to have a sweet taste.

Follow-up on more than 100,000 French people

This study was conducted in France and brought together 102,865 adult participants from the NutriNet-Santé cohort from 2009 to 2021. The median follow-up for individuals is 7.8 years. To measure the intake of synthetic sugars, the participants had to repeatedly record for 24 hours everything they ate, including the brand names of industrial foods and drinks. Statistical models were used and adjusted for age, gender, socio-professional level, activity physicalbeing a smoker or not, BMI (body mass index), weight gain or loss during follow-up, being diabetic or not and family history of cancer. The models have also been adapted according to the contributions ofalcoholof sodiumofsaturated fatty acidsfibre, sugars, fruits and vegetables, cereals wholemeal and dairy products.

Consumption of artificial sugars is a risk factor for cancer

The biggest consumers of synthetic sugars (all combined) had a higher risk of developing cancer, regardless of its location. In particular, aspartame and acesulfame-K were associated with a higher risk of cancer.

The authors highlighted a statistically significant link between artificial sugars and the occurrence of breast cancer or cancer related toobesity. Aspartame had a particularly strong link to breast cancer and obesity-related cancers.

Many cancers could be prevented. Cancers linked to consumption of processed products are part of. On the one hand, populations must be educated from an early age on the moderate consumption of this type of food. On the other hand, it is necessary to better regulate the use of artificial sugars by manufacturers via I’European Food Safety Authority and other health agencies.