Artificial sweeteners: not a panacea
Results of a large-scale study suggest that the use of artificial sweeteners does not help with weight reduction, and may even contribute to heart disease.
The study, published in the journal of the Canadian Medical Association, pulled together findings from a number of other investigations, including randomised controlled trials (RCTs) and prospective cohort studies, so it drew on a huge amount of data. It concluded that the RCT evidence did not clearly support the intended benefits of artificial sweeteners for weight management. Furthermore, observational data suggested that routine intake of the sweeteners could be associated with increased BMI and cardio-metabolic risk. The researchers could not explain their findings, and reported that more research was needed to clarify the long-term risks and benefits of artificial sweeteners. Read the paper here.
Since the introduction of a sugary drinks levy in the UK, there has been a widespread shift by beverage manufacturers to the use of artificial sweeteners.
The Sustain alliance campaigns for greener, fairer and healthier food systems. Find out more about our advocacy work for better children's diets here.
Published Monday 31 July 2017
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