On Thursday, two agencies of the World Health Organizationpublished their research results on aspartamean artificial sweetener used in thousands of sugar-free products such as diet soda, gum, yogurt and energy drinks.
The International Agency for Research on Cancer, an agency of the World Health Organization, has classified aspartame as a possible human carcinogen. Another organization, the Joint Expert Committee on Food Additives, has said there is no convincing evidence linking aspartame to human cancer and that people can still safely consume the sweetener in moderation.
WHO experts said at a press conference that the statement does not mean that aspartame will definitely cause cancer, but calls for more research on its health effects.
Dr. Francisco Branca, director of the WHO’s nutrition and food safety department, said the WHO is not recommending that companies remove products containing aspartame or urging people to stop consuming aspartame altogether. “We just recommend moderation,” he said.
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How much aspartame is too much?
According to the World Health Organization, a maximum of 40 mg of aspartame per kilogram of body weight per day is safe. Using diet soda as a measure, it is estimated that a person weighing 68 kg would need to drink more than a dozen cans a day to exceed this limit.
U.S. Food and Drug AdministrationThe FDA’s daily safety limit is slightly more relaxed, stating that people can consume up to 50 mg of aspartame per kilogram of body weight per day.
An FDA official said the agency’s scientists have no concerns about the safety of using aspartame “under the conditions that meet approval.”
“IARC’s labeling of aspartame as ‘probably carcinogenic to humans’ does not mean that aspartame is actually linked to cancer,” the official wrote.
Given the widespread use of the sweetener in question, several experts said consumers need not worry about the cancer risk of consuming aspartame. Dr. Dale Sheppard, a medical oncologist at the Cleveland Clinic, said the daily limit for aspartame is “not going to be reached with regular consumption.” “It’s not easy to get that much aspartame.”
What other substances are considered by the International Agency for Research on Cancer to be possibly carcinogenic?
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The International Agency for Research on Cancer has labeled aspartame as “probably carcinogenic to humans”.includeMore than 300 viruses, chemicals, occupational exposures, etc.Pickled vegetablesengine exhaust, certain types of human papillomavirus, and working as a dry cleaner fall into this category.
The limited evidence linking aspartame to liver cancer in humans is why the new category was created. There is not enough evidence to suggest it causes other cancers, and experts are not sure how the sweetener causes cancer. The group also found that evidence linking aspartame to cancer in animals is limited.
By comparison,Alcoholic BeveragesIt belongs to the most serious category, namely “human carcinogens”. The International Agency for Research on Cancer also includes air pollution, tobacco andProcessed meatClassified as a human carcinogen.
“The bigger difficulty is that, like other additives, there is not enough scientific evidence to say for sure that aspartame ‘does cause cancer’ or ‘does not cause cancer,'” said cardiologist Darish Mozaffarian, a professor of nutrition at the Tufts University School of Nutrition Science and Policy.
Neil Iyengar, a clinician scientist and medical oncologist at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York City, said that when it comes to reducing cancer risk, people should first consider other factors that may make them more susceptible to cancer, such as obesity, alcohol consumption and smoking.
What do we know about other sweeteners?
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There are many different artificial sweeteners on the market, all with different chemical structures, and there is not much data on their long-term health effects.
Joanne Slavin, a professor of food science and nutrition at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, said there are no clear results on which one is “best” for people.
WHOThis spring, the Institute of Nutrition and Dietetics said that artificial sweeteners such as aspartame, stevia, sucralose and sodium saccharin may not lead to fat loss and may increase the risk of cardiovascular disease, diabetes and overall mortality after consumption. The calorie-free sugar substitute erythritol has recently attracted attention for its possible link to cardiovascular disease, although the relevantThe evidence is inconclusive.
Some health experts suggest thatDifficultyIt may be high, but artificial sweeteners should be phased out of the diet. “If they don’t have any benefit, they’re not necessary in the diet, and they don’t provide any real benefit, why should we consume them?” said Marion Nestle, a professor of nutrition, nutrition research and public health at New York University.
But sugar has its own health risks. Any food that consistently raises your blood sugar level can be a problem, especially if you already have diabetes or another metabolic disorder.Centers for Disease Control and PreventionRegular consumption of sugary drinks, such as regular soda, has been linked to type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, kidney disease, obesity and other health problems.
“There’s always a risk,” Slavin said. “In the end, if you can tolerate the calories, maybe adding a little sugar to lemon water is safer than taking other sweeteners. It depends on your perspective, your health and what you want to do.”