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In the News, Fall 2023: Aspartame and Saccharin Linked to Increased Body Fat
Research from the University of Minnesota, published in the International Journal of Obesity, challenges conventional advice on artificial sweeteners. The researchers found a significant link between long-term intake of aspartame and saccharin and increased body fat – specifically in the abdomen and muscles. Sucralose, another commonly used artificial sweetener, was not associated with this outcome
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The study involved 3,088 men and women from the Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults (CARDIA) cohort, who were tracked over a 25-year period. Participants had their dietary intake assessed at baseline, year 7, and year 20 using validated diet history questionnaires. Visceral, intermuscular, and subcutaneous adipose tissue volumes were measured through computed tomography at year 25. Regression analyses were employed to determine the relationship between the intake of different artificial sweeteners and body fat measures.
This study echoes recent warnings about aspartame and calls into question recommendations by the American Diabetes Association and the American Heart Association, which advocate for replacing added sugars with artificial sweeteners. The research suggests that such substitutions may carry health risks and calls for alternative approaches.
Sources:
University of Minnesota-led study links long-term artificial sweetener intake to increased body fat adipose tissue volume. University of Minnesota, August 2, 2023. med.umn.edu/news-events.
Steffen BT, Jacobs DR, Yi SY, et al. Long-term aspartame and saccharin intakes are related to greater volumes of visceral, intermuscular, and subcutaneous adipose tissue: the CARDIA study. Int J Obes (2023). doi.org/10.1038/s41366-023-01336-y.
Published in the Journal of Health and Healing™
Fall 2023 | Volume 47, Number 3
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