Artificial sweeteners are now linked to increased cardio-metabolic risk and gain in weight -Not weight loss.

Artificial sweeteners are now linked to significantly higher risks of diabetes, heart disease and increased weight gain according to results of a systematic review and meta-analysis published today in Canadian Medical Association Journal.

Artificial sweeteners are synthetic food additives that we all are familiar with, they provide a sweet taste to the food without adding significant calories to it.

They are found in many common products we consume in our daily life Diet Soda, cough syrup, salad dressings, yoghurts and many more.

It is frequently added to tea, coffee and other sweet dishes to reduce the daily calorie consumption.

The present review was conducted by researchers from the University of Manitoba, Canada and reviewed data from 37 randomized control trials (RCTs) and prospective cohort studies which analyzed more than 406,000 people for an average period of 10 years.

Seven studies were RCTs, considered a gold trials in research arena.

The primary outcome that the researchers were interested was BMI, while secondary outcomes included weight, obesity and other cardiometabolic end points.

The data analysis of included RCTs shows that artificial sweeteners had no significant effect on BMI, whereas the analysis of cohort study showed a moderate increase in BMI over the course of years.

Further analysis of data from RCTs showed no further effect on other parameters of body composition or risk of cardiometabolic diseases. However, the data from cohort studies was associated with increases in weight and waist circumference, and higher incidence of obesity, hypertension, metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular events.

Because the data from RCTs does not resulted in increased weight gain and higher risk of cardiometabolic events, the systematic review does not prove causation.  

Meghan Azad, lead study researcher and an assistant professor in the department of pediatrics and child health at the University of Manitoba in Canada said, “I think there’s an assumption that when there are zero calories, there is zero harm. This research has made me appreciate that there’s more to it than calories alone.”

Susan Swithers, a professor in the department of psychological studies at Purdue University said, “Unfortunately, the quality of evidence that would support using sweeteners is not really strong. I think we are at a place where we can say that they don’t help.”

The current USDA guidelines allows for 10 teaspoons of sugar a day for average person, that equals to just one 16-ounce bottle of regular soda.

There are just five sweeteners approved by the Food and Drug Administration for use in the United States: acesulfame potassium (sold as Sunett and Sweet One), aspartame (sold as Equal, Nutrasweet and Sugar Twin), neotame (sold as Newtame), saccharin (sold as Sweet'N Low, Sweet Twin and Necta Sweet) and sucralose (sold as Splenda).

“More research is definitely needed,” says Azad. “You need a long-term study.” But, lack of proven benefits does make people pause and think, before choosing an artificial sweetener.

In the meantime, researcher’s advice that reducing your taste for sweet altogether rather than choosing between a sugar-sweetened or artificially sweetened drink or food is the best choice at present.

The FDA strongly believes that  use of these sweetener in moderation will not do much harm, till results of more studies proving the harms and benefits are available.  

Stevia, a natural sweetener derived from plants, was not included in the study.