Artificial sweeteners may seem like a good alternative to sugar for reducing calories, but a study published in The BMJTrusted Source revealed a possible link between these sweeteners and an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, including stroke.
The study, conducted by the French National Institute of Health and Medical Research, is not the first to suggest a link between artificial sweeteners and an increased risk of heart disease, however it is the largest to date as the study included data from over 100,000 attendees.
Nearly 37% of participants reported using artificial sweeteners, with participants divided into non-consumers, lower consumers (lower than average intake of artificial sweeteners), and higher consumers (above average intake of artificial sweeteners).
Artificial sweeteners (expressive – shutterstock)
While the participants consumed an average of 42.46 mg / day, the artificial sweeteners ranged from aspartame, acesulfame potassium, sucralose, cyclamate, saccharin, thaumatin, neoesperidin dihydrocalcone, steviol glycosides, and aspartame-acesulfame potassium.
100 thousand participants
At the end of the study, the researchers compared the number of cardiovascular conditions experienced by people who consumed artificial sweeteners with the number of conditions experienced by people who did not consume these sweeteners.
Participants reported 1,502 cardiovascular events during follow-up, including 730 cases of coronary artery disease and 777 cases of cerebrovascular disease. medical news today.
Furthermore, the study authors note that the occasional use of sweeteners is not as problematic as daily use.
Daily consumption is dangerous
In this regard, they said: “Occasional consumption of artificial sweeteners is unlikely to have a major impact on CVD risk.”
“The association between artificial sweeteners and coronary heart disease / stroke is not surprising given that sweeteners are associated with diabetes, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, hypertriglyceridemia and obesity,” said Dr. Viken Zetjian, a cardiologist at the University of Texas Health. Science Center of San Antonio. “.
Artificial sweeteners (expressive – shutterstock)
Dr Zetjian noted that the study may not be applicable to the entire population, however, he said, “It gives us an idea that sweeteners may be involved in coronary artery disease and cerebrovascular disease.”
