Consumption of aspartame and other artificial sweeteners and risk of cancer in the Spanish multicase‐control study (MCC‐Spain)

Abstract

Use of artificial sweeteners (AS) such as aspartame, cyclamate, saccharin and sucralose is widespread. We evaluated the association of use of aspartame and other AS with cancer. In total 1881 colorectal, 1510 breast, 972 prostate and 351 stomach cancer and 109 chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) cases and 3629 population controls from the Spanish Multicase-Control (MCC-Spain) study were recruited (2008)(2009)(2010)(2011)(2012)(2013). The consumption of AS, from table-top sweeteners and artificially sweetened beverages, was assessed through a self-administered and validated food frequency questionnaire (FFQ). Sex-specific quartiles among controls were determined to compare moderate consumers (<third quartile) and high consumers (≥ third quartile) vs non consumers (reference category), distinguishing aspartame-containing products

Association between Artificial Sweetener-Aspartame Consumption and Colorectal Cancer Risk: Evidence-Based Strategies

“…One article was excluded because of insufficient data due to irrelevant exposures or results. In the end, 10 studies [10‒15, 18‒21] were included, which comprised three case-control and seven cohort studies. No additional studies were identified after checking the reference lists of the included studies.…”

“…A recent study from Egypt showed that the most significant dietary risk factor for the development of CRC was ASs [10]. However, several recent studies have shown no association between the consumption of aspartame or other ASs and CRC [11][12][13][14]. For example, a study from the USA showed that replacing each daily serving of sugar-sweetened beverage intake with artificially sweetened beverages was associated with a 17-36% lower risk of early-onset CRC [15].…”

Sweeteners and the Gut Microbiome: Effects on Gastrointestinal Cancers

“…With gastrointestinal cancers being the focus of this review, using aspartame (15 and 30 mM) for HT-29 human colorectal carcinoma proved to have a pro-angiogenic effect [107]. However, consuming artificial sweeteners, including aspartame, was not associated with colorectal or stomach cancers [108]. These data show the urgent need to address those controversial results, putting into perspective the model and the concentration of aspartame used.…”

Effect of steviol glycosides as natural sweeteners on glucose metabolism in adult participants

“…6 Previous studies have reported that aspartame and saccharin, the most common artificial sweeteners, had deleterious effects on cancers, cardiovascular diseases (CVD) and glucose metabolism. [7][8][9] In contrast, steviol glycosides (SGs) have been well-recognized as safe natural sweeteners. 10 SGs are secondary metabolites extracted from the leaves of stevia (Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni), a South American shrub, [11][12][13] and are generally 150-300 times sweeter than sucrose.…”