More evidence continues to grow that artificial sweeteners are dangerous to your health. On the basis of research linking artificial sweeteners to cancerfirst Another study revealed that they disrupt the liver detoxification process.
The latest research concerns the non-nutritive sweeteners acesulfame potassium and sucralose, which are widely used as zero-calorie sugar substitutes. Study author Laura Danner, a doctoral student at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine, estimates that 40% of Americans regularly consume artificial sweeteners.
“In fact, many people don’t realize that these sweeteners are found in light or unsweetened versions of yogurt and snacks and even in non-food products such as liquid pills and a variety of foods. cosmetics,” she said in a press release.2
Artificial sweeteners disrupt liver detoxification
The liver is a major organ for detoxification, responsible for more than 500 functions in your body.3 Through your liver, nutrients, medications, and toxins are processed and, if necessary, returned to your bloodstream for elimination through your intestines and kidneys. During phase II detoxification, your liver can even process toxins into less toxic substances so your body can get rid of them more easily.4
However, in research presented at the April 2022 American Society of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology annual meeting, in Philadelphia, it was revealed that artificial sweeteners – specifically acesulfame potassium and sucralose – can interfere with the liver’s delicate detoxification processes.
Research shows that acesulfame potassium and sucralose – brand name Splenda – inhibit the action of P-glycoprotein, a “defensive protein” important for protecting organisms against environmental toxins.5
For comparison, the well-known toxin DDT (dichloro-diphenyl-trichloroethane) has also been found to inhibit P-glycoprotein (PGP), which is one reason why the researchers stated, “Even with In small amounts, these pollutants can interfere with the human body’s natural defenses. ”6
Dr. Stephanie Olivier-Van Stichelen, lead author of the study, explains that potentially harmful effects occur at normal exposure levels:7
“We observed that sweeteners impacted PGP activity in hepatocytes at concentrations expected through the consumption of common foods and beverages, well below the maximum limit. FDA-recommended… To our knowledge, we are the first to decipher the molecular mechanism by which non-nutritive sweeteners act in detoxification in the liver. ”
For the study, hepatocytes and non-cellular assays, which provide detailed information on cellular processes such as transport, were investigated, revealing that artificial sweeteners stimulated transports and can bind to PGP, thereby inhibiting the transport of compounds such as xenobiotics, drugs and their metabolites, short-chain lipids, and bile acids.8
The findings could therefore have important implications for people taking antidepressants, antibiotics, and blood pressure medications, using PGP as a major detoxification transporter.
Furthermore, because PGP also plays a role in other body functions, including maintaining the blood-brain barrier, the researchers highlight the need for more research to determine how the sweeteners work. may affect organs other than the liver, as well as the extent of its effects. They interfere with drug metabolism. According to Danner:9
“If future studies confirm that non-nutritive sweeteners reduce the body’s detoxification process, it will be essential to study potential interactions and determine safe consumption levels for these groups. have risk. It may also be important to include a specific amount of non-nutritive sweetener included on food labels so that people can better track their intake. “
Artificial sweeteners linked to increased cancer risk
In a study of 102,865 adults from France, published in the journal PLOS Medicine, diet and consumption of artificial sweeteners were collected and analyzed for associations with cancer incidence. Large-scale cohort studies show that people who consume higher amounts of artificial sweeteners have a higher overall risk of cancer than those who don’t.ten
Of the artificial sweeteners studied, in particular, aspartame and acesulfame-K were associated with an increased risk of cancer, while intake was associated with an increased risk of breast and fat-related cancers. obesity, including cancers of the stomach, liver, colon, and rectum.
Specifically, the total risk of cancer in those who consumed artificial sweeteners increased by 13%, while the risk of breast cancer increased by 22% and the risk of obesity-related cancers increased by 15%.11 These results suggest that artificial sweeteners, used in many food and beverage brands worldwide, may represent a possible risk factor, the researchers note. can be changed to prevent cancer”.twelfth
It’s a worrying finding, as aspartame alone has been used in 1,400 food products in France and more than 6,000 globally. Its high level of sweetness – 200 times more than sugar13 – and its low calorie count makes it popular among people looking to make their drinks and meals sweeter, without the calories of a sugar equivalent. However, its safety was debated from the outset. According to the research team:14
“[E]xperts has called on public health authorities to reassess the role of aspartame in cancer development, based on previous and recent findings in animal models, in vitro studies, and at lower than human data. The findings of other artificial sweeteners also raise questions regarding their potential role in carcinogenesis based on in vivo studies.”
The Long History of Aspartame’s Carcinogenicity
In 2006, a study led by Dr Morando Soffritti, a cancer researcher from Italy, found that even at low doses, animals developed several different forms of cancer when fed aspartame. .15
Sofritti is the head of the European Ramazzini Foundation for Environmental Sciences and Cancer, a respected, independent and non-profit organization that has been active in the field of cancer prevention for more than three decades. “Extremely high incidence of brain tumors” was also identified in rats fed aspartame, compared with mice not fed aspartame.16 Furthermore, the US Right to Know reported:17
“Harvard researchers in 2012 reported a positive association between aspartame intake and an increased risk of non-Hodgkin lymphoma and multiple myeloma in men, and leukemia in men and women.18
In a 2014 commentary in the American Journal of Industrial Medicine, Maltoni Center researchers wrote that studies submitted by GD Searle for market approval ‘do not provide full scientific support. enough for [aspartame’s] safety. In contrast, recent results … provide consistent evidence of [aspartame’s] carcinogenic potential. ”
A 2020 study further supports the initial findings of the Ramazzini Institute (RI), which showed a statistically significant increase in the total number of hematopoietic and lymphoid tissue (HLT) tumors as well as the total number of malignancies. Leukemia and lymphoma in aspartame-exposed female rats.
“After re-evaluating HLT cases, the results obtained are consistent with those reported in the previous RI publication and strengthen the hypothesis that APM [aspartame] The researchers explain that there are lymphatic and lymphoproliferative effects.19
Again in 2021, a review of data by the Ramazzini Institute further confirmed that aspartame is a carcinogen in rodents. The researchers note that their findings “confirm a very disturbing finding that prenatal exposure to aspartame increases cancer risk in the offspring of rodents. They validated the conclusions of the original RI studies. ”20
In response, they called on national and international public health authorities to re-examine the health risks of aspartame, particularly prenatal and early postpartum exposure.21
Artificial sweeteners disrupt the gut microbiome
It is now recognized that preserving the diversity of your gut microbiome is important for optimal health, and antibiotics significantly disrupt the gut microbiome. . However, many people don’t know that artificial sweeteners including saccharine, sucralose, aspartame, and acesulfame potassium can lead to changes in the gut microbiome similar to those caused by antibiotics. .22
In 2021, researchers reveal for the first time that artificial sweeteners can even promote antibiotic resistance through conjugated gene transfer and offer insights into how artificially affects your body at the cellular level, even affecting the expression of genes. When exposed to artificial sweeteners at the single-cell level, the researchers noticed disturbing changes in the bacteria:23
“The bacteria exposed to the compounds tested exhibited increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, SOS responses, and gene transfer. In addition, cell membrane permeability was increased in both parent bacteria when exposed to the compounds tested. The expression of genes involved in ROS detoxification, SOS response, and cell membrane permeability were significantly upregulated upon sweetener treatment. “
Disruption of the gut microbiome has also been linked to non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), and artificial sweeteners may also play a role in the condition. NAFLD is the most common chronic liver disease in developed countries.24 characterized by the accumulation of excess fat in your liver that is not associated with heavy alcohol use.
While increased intake of toxic industrially processed nut oils plays a role in the increased incidence of NAFLD, the dysbiosis potential of artificial sweeteners may be another culprit.25
Artificial sweeteners have also been shown to induce glucose intolerance by altering the gut microbiome.26 Research led by Eran Elinav of the Weizmann Institute of Science in Rehovot, Israel, shows for the first time that rats fed artificial sweeteners develop glucose intolerance after 11 weeks. They then revealed that changing the animals’ gut bacteria affected their glucose response.
Furthermore, a study published in the journal Frontiers in Nutrition in 2022 discovered changes in the gut microbiota of offspring for mothers who were fed low doses of aspartame and even aspartame. stevia, states that the consumption of “sweetness has long-lasting and intergenerational effects on the gut microbiota, microbial metabolites, and host health. ”27
They are found in more than just diet drinks
Much of the research surrounding artificial sweeteners has focused on their use in beverages, with such beverages being used as a proxy for estimating overall consumption. However, as the PLOS Medicine team noted, “More accurate assessment of artificial sweetener exposure from a broader range of ultra-processed products (e.g., flavored yogurts, snack foods) low sugar snacks, ready meals, table sweeteners) needed.”28
Furthermore, little is known about the cumulative effects of exposure to different types of artificial sweeteners, even though millions of people consume multiple artificial sweeteners on a daily basis. The study came to the unequivocal conclusion that, “Our findings do not support the use of artificial sweeteners as safe substitutes for sugar in foods or beverages…”29
If you want to eliminate your exposure to these harmful products, be aware that they are found in many products beyond beverages, including dairy products, ketchup, salad dressings, and baked goods. and drugs.
For a simple tip to satisfy your sweet tooth if a person has nothing to eat – without resorting to artificial sweeteners – eat something sour. Sour flavors, such as sourness from fermented vegetables or lemonade or lime juice, help reduce cravings for sweets.
