The dangers of artificial sweeteners to the brain

A new study published in the American medical journal Neurology has issued a remarkable warning that low- and no-calorie sweeteners (LNC) can damage thinking and memory, and cause "long-term harm" to human health.

Artificial sugars are often used in low-calorie foods and drinks. (Source: That Sugar Movement)

The researchers followed 12,772 Brazilian civil servants, with an average age of 52, for an average of eight years. Participants completed detailed questionnaires about their food and beverage intake in the previous year, and then underwent tests of cognitive skills such as word recall and verbal fluency.

The results showed that people who consumed the most sweeteners such as aspartame and saccharin had a 62% faster rate of cognitive decline than those who consumed the least, equivalent to “aging an additional 1.6 years”. This trend was especially prominent in the under-60s, raising concerns about brain health risks in middle-aged people.

The authors assert that daily LNC consumption is associated with accelerated decline in memory, verbal fluency, and cognition, with substances such as aspartame, saccharin, acesulfame K, erythritol, sorbitol, and xylitol being shown to be associated with cognitive decline. In addition, the study reiterates warnings from many previous works that sweeteners can increase the risk of type 2 diabetes, cancer, heart disease, depression, dementia, and damage to the intestinal wall.

“Low-calorie and no-calorie sweeteners are often considered healthy alternatives to sugar. However, our findings suggest that certain sweeteners may have negative effects on brain health over time,” said lead study author Claudia Kimie Suemoto, of the University of São Paulo, Brazil.

However, organisations and businesses in the food and drink industry have expressed doubts about these findings. Gavin Partington, director general of the British Soft Drinks Association, said the study did not prove a cause and effect relationship: “According to all leading health authorities around the world, non-sugar sweeteners are safe and that is why they have been used in many foods, medicines, dentistry and drinks for many decades.”

He cited the use of sweeteners, which have helped UK manufacturers remove nearly 750 million kilograms of sugar from products since 2015. According to the International Sweeteners Association (ISA), there is a “scientific consensus” that sweeteners are safe. In a statement, the ISA stressed: “This study is observational and can show a statistical association but cannot prove a direct cause-and-effect relationship.”

Although the scientific debate is still ongoing, this discovery has added another alarm bell about the potential impact of consuming artificial sweeteners, at the same time, requiring consumers to be alert and cautious in choosing daily foods and drinks to protect long-term brain and physical health.

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/nguy-co-tu-chat-tao-ngot-nhan-tao-voi-nao-bo-327436.html