The Claim

Consumption of artificial sweeteners from beverages is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, while consumption from solid foods is associated with weaker or borderline associations, indicating that beverage sources may contribute more significantly to cardiovascular disease risk than other dietary forms.

Source: Artificial sweeteners and risk of cardiovascular diseases: results from the prospective NutriNet-Santé cohort

What the research says

Supports is higher

Support is ahead, but a single strong opposing study can change this.

Supports
66score
Challenges
0score

These are independent scores, not a percentage. Higher-grade studies count more, so a single strong opposing study can outweigh several weaker ones.

Correlation
1 study reviewed
In plain English

People who drink beverages containing artificial sweeteners have a higher risk of cardiovascular disease compared to those who consume the same sweeteners in solid foods.

See the scientific wording

Artificial sweeteners from beverages are associated with increased cardiovascular disease risk (P=0.02), while those from solid foods show weaker or borderline associations, suggesting beverage sources may be a more significant contributor to cardiovascular risk than other dietary forms.

Why this might work

Drinking beverages with artificial sweeteners changes the bacteria in the gut, which triggers more inflammation in the body and damages the lining of blood vessels, making heart disease more likely.

Suggested mechanismbased on 1 study

What the research says

1 study
  1. Study: Artificial sweeteners and risk of cardiovascular diseases: results from the prospective NutriNet-Santé cohort

    This study found that people who ate or drank more artificial sweeteners had a slightly higher risk of heart and brain blood vessel problems. While it didn’t only look at drinks, the sweeteners most common in diet sodas were linked to these risks, suggesting drinks might be a bigger concern than sweets or yogurt with artificial sugar.

Score breakdown, mechanism chain, raw evidence, ideal studies needed & 1 supporting studies

Fit Body Science verdict — we translate health claims into clear verdicts backed by peer-reviewed research.

Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making health decisions.