Artificial sweeteners have very few calories, so they are often included in foods and beverages in the hope that they will help you lose weight. They are also used in toothpaste, candies and chewing gum to prevent tooth decay.
People generally believe that the use of artificial sweeteners has a good effect on health, while a study of more than 100,000 French adults shows that in fact these artificial sweeteners are not as useful to us as we think.
The study, conducted by the French National Institutes for Health and Medical Research and Charlotte Debras, Methald Touyer and colleagues at Sobourne Paris Nord University, found a link between artificial sweeteners and an increased risk of cancer.
They analyzed 102,865 French adults who volunteered for the study. Prior to the study, people provided data on their medical history as well as socio-demographic diet, lifestyle and medical issues.
Participants' 24-hour dietary records also provided information on the use of artificial sugars. During the follow-up, the medical team gathered information about the diagnosis of cancer and analyzed whether there was a link between the use of artificial sweeteners and the risk of cancer.
In a joint statement from Towier, Debras and HealthLine, the experts said that studies show that regular use of artificial sweeteners may be linked to an increased risk of cancer.
The team also found an increased risk for a group of cancers related to breast cancer and obesity in particular, including colorectal (bowel) and prostate cancer.
