MEDICAL NEWS TODAY – Research has associated artificial sweeteners with a number of health conditions, including gastrointestinal problems, neurological symptoms, diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
Now, a study has found that, in mice, aspartame triggers insulin spikes that lead to the build up of fatty plaques in the arteries — a risk factor for heart attacks and strokes.
Artificial sweeteners are widely used in baked goods, soft drinks, candy, puddings, canned foods, jams and jellies, dairy products, and many other foods and beverages, particularly those marketed as sugar-free or diet.
Six artificial sweeteners have been approved by the FDA for food use — aspartame, saccharin, acesulfame potassium, sucralose, neotame, and advantame. As well as being used in sweet foods and drinks, they are found in many savory products, such as ready meals, ketchups and sauces, and even bread.
One of the most commonly used is aspartame, also known by its brand names, which include Nutrasweet®, Equal®, and Sugar Twin®. It is 200 times sweeter than sugar so, although it contains calories, much less is needed to give the same level of sweetness.
…article continued below
– Advertisement –
Research has suggested that artificial sweeteners may have adverse health effects, particularly if consumed often.
They have been associated with several health conditions, including affecting the functioning of the gastrointestinal system, causing headaches and taste alteration, and increasing the risk of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
A new study investigating the effect of aspartame in mice has provided further evidence that it may contribute to CVD risk, and outlines how it might do this.
The study found that aspartame triggered spikes in release of insulin — the hormone that controls blood glucose — leading to the build up of fatty plaques, or atherosclerosisTrusted Source, in the arteries.
The study is published in Cell Metabolism …