Artificial sweeteners health warning from diabetes, cancer and weight gain

Ongoing and previous studies have warned of the major health hazards caused by artificial sweetener consumption.

Artificial sweeteners should not be deemed healthy, warn researchers.

Scientists led by the Weizmann Institute of Science near Tel Aviv, Israel and John Hopkins University found the damaging effects certain artificial sweeteners have on the body.

The sweeteners, often used in diet sodas, fruit juices or low-fat desserts, should in fact “not be assumed safe”, they said.

The Israeli scientists gave 120 people one of four sweeteners or a placebo up to three times a week for 14 days with startling results.

Artificial sweeteners are linked to a higher risk of diabetes and cancer (Getty Images/Tetra images RF)

The researchers found difficulty to effectively absorb sugar was evident among certain artificial sweeteners and directly impacts a person’s gut microbiome.

Sweeteners aspartame and stevia altered gut microbiome but those who got saccharin and sucralose, a common sugar substitute in baking, were less able to absorb sugar.

Lead author of the study and microbiologist Dr Eran Elinav said: “We should not assume [sweeteners] are safe until proven otherwise. Until then, caution is advised.”

Other health conditions linked to artificial sweeteners include:

• Cancer
• Obesity
• Diabetes
• Brain tumours
• Cardiovascular diseases
• Stroke
• Pregnancy risk
• Depression
• Headaches
• Irritable bowel syndrome.

Artificial sweeteners are found in diet sodas, sugar-free candy and some yogurts (Getty)

Diabetes

Previous studies have linked artificial sweeteners with an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

One study by researchers at the University of Adelaide in Australia found the sweeteners altered the body’s ability to control levels of glucose in the blood.

This resulted in both an increased diabetes risk but also weight gain.

Cancer

Previous studies have found aspartame, one of the most dangerous types of artificial sweeteners, has been shown to increase the size of cancerous tumours.

Research has referred to consumption of aspartame as an “urgent matter” when it came to its link to cancer.

Health experts have warned of over 974 food products containing aspartame, which include diet soda, sugar-free ice cream, sugar-free sweets, some breakfast cereals, yogurt and gum.

Added artificial sweeteners to check on food and drink labels include:

• Glucose
• Fructose
• Alitame
• Acesulfame Potassium
• Advantame
• Aspartame
• Cyclamate
• Dextrose
• Erythritol
• High-Fructose Corn Syrup
• Maltose
• Neotame
• Saccharin
• Sorbitol
• Sucralose.