The Study
Artificial Sweeteners and Risk of Type 2 Diabetes in the Prospective NutriNet-Santé Cohort
This study watched a bunch of people over many years and noticed that those who drank more diet soda or ate more sugar-free snacks were more likely to get type 2 diabetes later. But it didn’t make anyone change what they ate — so we can’t say the sweeteners caused the diabetes, just that they tended to happen together.
Analysis score
Maximum 72 for a cohort study.
Where the score came from
This study looked at whether people who drink diet drinks or eat sugar-free foods with artificial sweeteners are more likely to get type 2 diabetes.
Where does this study sit?
Reviews of RCTs (Meta-analyses)
Max 100Randomized Trials
Max 90Reviews of Cohort Studies
Max 85Cohort Studies
Max 72Reviews of Case-Control Studies
Max 63Case-Control Studies
Max 58Cross-Sectional & Case Series
Max 50Expert Opinion
Max 559 / 100
Quality score
Groups of people are followed over time to see who develops an outcome. Strong for identifying risk factors and associations, but cannot prove causation as firmly as RCTs.
Key takeaways
Summary
Based on the study abstract and findings.
- 1Yes — even small daily amounts (like 1/3 of a soda) were linked to a big increase in diabetes risk, suggesting artificial sweeteners may not be a safe sugar substitute.
- 2People who ate more artificial sweeteners (like aspartame or acesulfame-K) had a 63% to 70% higher chance of getting type 2 diabetes over 9 years, even if they didn't gain weight.
- 3Switching from sugar to artificial sweeteners didn't lower their risk.
Score breakdown, methodology, conflicts of interest, evidence analysis & raw study data
Publication
Journal
Diabetes Care
Year
2023
Authors
C. Debras, M. Deschasaux-Tanguy, E. Chazelas, L. Sellem, N. Druesne-Pecollo, Y. Esseddik, F. Szabo de Edelenyi, C. Agaësse, A. De Sa, Rebecca Lutchia, C. Julia, E. Kesse‐Guyot, B. Allès, P. Galan, S. Hercberg, I. Huybrechts, E. Cosson, Sopio Tatulashvili, B. Srour, M. Touvier
Related Content
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Claims (6)
People who consume artificial sweeteners above the median intake level for their sex have a higher incidence of type 2 diabetes compared to those who consume less.
Adults who consume more than 16.4 mg/day of artificial sweeteners if male or 18.5 mg/day if female have a 69% higher incidence of type 2 diabetes over 9.1 years compared to those who consume less, after accounting for weight change, diet, and other metabolic risk factors.
Adults who consumed more aspartame than the median daily amount for their sex had a 63% higher rate of developing type 2 diabetes over 9.1 years, compared to those who consumed less, after accounting for body weight and other dietary factors.
In a study of over 105,000 French adults, those who consumed more sucralose than the median amount for their sex had a 34% higher rate of developing type 2 diabetes over 9.1 years, though the strength of this link decreased in some statistical tests.
People who consumed more acesulfame-K than the median amount for their sex had a 70% higher rate of developing type 2 diabetes over 9.1 years compared to those who consumed less, even after accounting for body weight and other dietary factors.
Switching from sugar to artificial sweeteners in the diet does not lower the chance of developing type 2 diabetes.
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making health decisions.