Key points from article :
Research involving 103,000 French adults shows sweeteners ‘should not be considered a healthy and safe alternative to sugar’.
Artificial sweeteners are linked to an increased risk of heart disease.
“The results suggest that artificial sweeteners might represent a modifiable risk factor for cardiovascular disease prevention,” the researchers wrote.
Sweetener intake was tracked using diet records.
Artificial sweetener consumption was linked to a 9% higher risk of cardiovascular disease.
A specific type of sweetener – aspartame – was associated with a 17% increased risk of cerebrovascular events.
The research was carried out at Sorbonne Paris Nord University and published in the BMJ.
