Artificial sweeteners linked to heart disease, other conditions

A new study by researchers in Canada has found an association between artificial sweeteners and an increased risk for heart disease and other conditions related to it.

The research, published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal (CMAJ), showed that in addition to heart disease, consuming artificial sweeteners could also lead to obesity, diabetes and high blood pressure. The study was conducted by scientists at the University of Manitoba’s George & Fay Yee Centre for Healthcare Innovation in Winnipeg, Canada.

Existing research on artificial sweeteners is conflicting, but this study helps crystalize the negative long-term effects of eating it. Researchers working on the study reviewed 37 studies that followed more than 400,000 people for an average of 10 years. Only seven of the studies were randomized controlled trials, though.

Many people eat artificial sugars as a method to cut down on their sugar consumption and lose weight, but the trials showed that eating it yielded opposite results. The longer, observational studies revealed a link between artificial sugars and weight gain, as well as the other health issues associated with it.

"Despite the fact that millions of individuals routinely consume artificial sweeteners, relatively few patients have been included in clinical trials of these products," said Ryan Zarychanski, MD, the lead author on the study and an assistant professor at the University of Manitoba, in a statement. "We found that data from clinical trials do not clearly support the intended benefits of artificial sweeteners for weight management."

The researchers argue that more studies should be conducted to fully determine the effects of artificial sweeteners, and one scientist is currently looking at the connections between consumption and pregnant women.

“Given the widespread and increasing use of artificial sweeteners, and the current epidemic of obesity and related diseases, more research is needed to determine the long-term risks and benefits of these products,” said Meghan Azad, MD, the author on the ongoing study and an assistant professor at the University of Manitoba, in a statement. “Caution is warranted until the long-term health effects of artificial sweeteners are fully characterized.”