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A French study published Thursday, September 8 in the British Medical Journal suggests that the consumption of artificial sweeteners could promote cardiovascular disease. The article, produced by a cohort of researchers from several institutes, affirms, however, that these artificial sugars should not be abandoned in favor of conventional sugars.
The study was conducted on more than 100,000 participants between 2009 and 2021. Thanks to the declarations details of volunteersthe scientists were able to observe both what the participants ate (i.e. the quantities and brands they were used to consuming), but also their lifestyle, the practice or not of physical activity, or even their medical history.
On the sample observed in the NutriNetSanté study, 40% of participants consumed sweeteners, at a rate of 42 mg per day. It is the equivalent of 100 ml of soda or an individual packet of fake powdered sugar.
18% increased risk of stroke
On these subjects, the researchers observed a multiplication of cardiovascular events. Scientists have been able to establish that the biggest consumers aspartame, acesulfame k or sucralose were about 18% more likely to experience strokes and up to 40% for coronary heart disease, compared to non-drinkers.
If the results are worrying, the researchers however invite caution on their interpretation. According to them, they should not only be confirmed on other population samples, but future research should focus on better understanding the mechanisms triggered by the consumption of sweeteners in the human body.
This study is not the first to question the safety of synthetic sweeteners. Last March, the same cohort of researchers had already established a link between these “ fake sugars and the risk of developing cancer.
Remove the sweet taste from our diet
But according to the researchers, we should not give up the light versions of the products and go back to their classic sweet version. For Mathilde Touvier, research director at Inserm and coordinator of the study, ” the deleterious effects of sugar consumption are real. Obesity, dental caries, fatty liver disease… Under no circumstances should this study persuade the consumer to return to sugar ».
The scientist concludes that the wisest thing would probably be to gradually eliminate the sweet taste in our diet.
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