What?
A group of French scientists set out to investigate the use of artificial sweeteners in our food and drink and in turn, their effect on the heart. Sweeteners are popular with patients who suffer from diabetes, or dieters, who utilise them as a sugar substitute. This can be to reduce sugar intake to prevent high blood sugar, or to help with weight loss. The authors found that higher intake of artificial sweeteners was associated with a higher risk of developing a heart condition in later life.
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Why?
Sweeteners have long been hailed as a safe alternative to refined sugar. The chemical name for sugar is sucrose. Sucrose is broken down into glucose for our bodies to use as the main source of fuel for our cells. But excess sugar can lead to weight gain, and in healthy people without type 1 diabetes it can lead to insulin spikes. This can cause tiredness and increased appetite, leading to further weight gain.
Sweeteners provide a similar sweet taste to sugar, but they can produce similar levels of sweetness from smaller quantities, and therefore contain fewer calories. For this reason they have been touted as better for us than regular sugar, but artificial sweeteners are now thought to contribute to different health problems, such as heart disease.
The aim of the study was to look at the association between sweeteners and developing heart issues following long-term consumption. In a 10 year period sweetener intake and the development of any heart condition was assessed in over 100,000 participants.
How does it affect you?
Interestingly, the study indeed showed that there may be an association between high use of artificial sweetener consumption and increased risk of developing heart issues.
According to the authors:
‘The findings from this large scale prospective cohort study suggest a potential direct association between higher artificial sweetener consumption (especially aspartame, acesulfame potassium, and sucralose) and increased cardiovascular disease risk.’
We are well aware of the harmful effects of sugar on our bodies. This is reflected in government initiatives to tax sugar and reduce its advertising on TV, especially to children. This study offers evidence that artificial sweeteners are not the wholly safe alternative we may have been lead to believe. For dieters and diabetics alike, along with the rest of us, it seems that sugar intake in moderation remains the safest course forward.
Credit: Pexels
For those with diabetes worried about their sugar intake, here is a great resource that discusses whether diabetics can eat sugar. Also check out the myHSN take where we dispel some commonly heard myths about diabetes!
As always, best wishes from myHSN!
