A new study suggests that a widely used sugar substitute found in diet drinks, chewing gum, and low-sugar yogurt, may elevate insulin levels, potentially increasing the long-term risk of heart problems.
“Artificial sweeteners have penetrated almost all kinds of food, so we have to know the long-term health impact,” said senior author Yihai Cao, who studies chronic diseases related to blood vessel disorders at Karolinska Institute in Sweden.
Aspartame ‘Tricks’ the Body
The study, recently published in the Cell Press journal Cell Metabolism, found that sugar substitute aspartame triggers increased insulin levels in mice, which in turn contributes to atherosclerosis, the buildup of fatty plaque in the arteries. This buildup can lead to higher levels of inflammation, a known contributing factor that increases the risk of heart attacks and stroke over time.
George Citroner
Author
George Citroner reports on health and medicine, covering topics that include cancer, infectious diseases, and neurodegenerative conditions. He was awarded the Media Orthopaedic Reporting Excellence (MORE) award in 2020 for a story on osteoporosis risk in men.
