French researchers have found that people who consume artificial sweeteners have up to 13% higher risk of cancer than those who don’t.
According to the British Daily Mail on the 25th (local time), experts from the French National Institute of Health and Medical Sciences and the Sorbonne Paris Nord University have suggested that the consumption of artificial sweeteners may increase the risk of cancer.
The new study looked at data from 102,865 French adults. Participants in the study self-reported medical history, diet, lifestyle, and other health data. The study found that those who consumed more artificial sweeteners (typically 79 mg per day) had a 13% higher overall cancer risk compared to those who did not.
The differences were greatest with the UK approved sweeteners aspartame and acesulfame-K. It is known as a sweetener that is 200 times sweeter than regular sugar. A higher risk was also observed in breast cancer and obesity-related cancers, the team explained. These sweeteners are used in a variety of processed foods to the extent that they are included in diet cola and cheese.
However, some experts point out that there is a limit to ascertaining the direct effect of this variable, as women who are obese or prone to weight gain are more likely to use artificial sweeteners.