New Findings on Sweeteners in Sugar-Free Beverages

A large-scale study by French scientists reveals that consuming sweeteners may increase the risk of cancer by more than 13%.

Millions of people worldwide consume sweeteners daily through various products such as diet sodas and sugar-free beverages while trying to lose weight and reduce sugar intake. However, according to AFP, this practice may put us at a higher risk of developing cancer.

Researchers at the INSERM Institute in France analyzed data from over 100,000 individuals in the country. From this data, the team discovered that volunteers who consumed the most sweeteners (exceeding the average level) had a 13% higher risk of cancer compared to those who did not use these substances.

Among the 103,000 participants, 79% were women, and 37% consumed artificial sweeteners. Soft drinks accounted for more than 50% of the beverages containing sweeteners that they consumed.

The study, published in the journal PLOS Medicine on March 24, highlights particularly high cancer risks associated with the sweeteners aspartame and acesulfame potassium. Both of these substances are commonly used in soft drinks and carbonated beverages. Additionally, the risk of breast cancer and other obesity-related cancers was found to be the highest.

The new study found that those who consume high amounts of artificial sweeteners as sugar substitutes in drinks and sodas have a 13% higher risk of cancer. (Photo: iStock).

Professor Mathilde Touvier, Director of the INSERM Institute, urged other experts to conduct further research to confirm these findings. Currently, both the National Cancer Institute of the United States and Cancer Research UK assert that sweeteners do not cause cancer and that they have been approved for use by the European Food Safety Authority.

According to biomedical scientist James Brown from Aston University in the UK, the relationship between artificial sweetener consumption and cancer risk has been controversial since the 1970s when the sweetener cyclamate was banned due to its association with bladder cancer in rats. However, this has never been proven in humans.

The expert evaluated the findings of the French research team as quite reasonable and noted their impressive sample size. Nevertheless, he believes the evidence they provided is “not strong enough” for the UK’s National Health Service to modify its recommendations regarding sweeteners.

Meanwhile, Professor Michael Jones from the Institute of Cancer Research in London criticized the reported relationship in the study as “not implying causation.” He disputed these results and stated that there is no evidence to suggest that artificial sweeteners cause cancer.