Aspartame linked to surging insulin levels, fatty plaques and inflammation
Aspartame, the artificial sweetener commonly found in diet sodas and sugar-free snacks, may do significant harm to a person’s cardiovascular system, according to new data published in Cell Metabolism.[1]
The study’s authors exposed mice to relatively high levels of aspartame for 12 weeks, charting the intervention’s impact. Compared to mice not given aspartame, these mice faced a significantly higher risk of developing atherosclerosis. They experienced spikes in their insulin levels, developed more fatty plaques in their arteries and showed more signs of inflammation.
Another big takeaway from the team’s research was the discovery that the protein CX3CL1 appears to impact how the body responds to high aspartame levels. Eliminating CX3CL1 receptors from the immune cells in aspartame-fed mice also eliminated the progression of fatty plaques.
“Because blood flow through the artery is strong and robust, most chemicals would be quickly washed away as the heart pumps,” senior author Yihai Cao, a researcher with Karolinska Institute in Sweden, said in a statement. “Surprisingly, not CX3CL1. It stays glued to the surface of the inner lining of blood vessels. There, it acts like a bait, catching immune cells as they pass by.”
Cao et al. already have their sights set on the next steps of this research. They want to verify that aspartame is associated with an increased risk of atherosclerosis in humans, for example, while exploring the potential of targeting CX3CL1 in a way that can help reduce a person’s risk of blood vessel inflammation.
“Artificial sweeteners have penetrated almost all kinds of food, so we have to know the long-term health impact,” Cao said.
Click here to read the team’s full analysis in Cell Metabolism.
Michael has more than 18 years of experience as a professional writer and editor. He has written at length about cardiology, radiology, artificial intelligence and other key healthcare topics.