The Study
Artificially Sweetened Beverage Consumption and Cancer Risk: A Comprehensive Dose–Response Meta-Analysis of Prospective Studies
This study watched what people ate for many years and noticed that those who drank more diet soda or ate more sugar-free snacks had slightly more cancer. But it didn't prove that the sweeteners caused the cancer—maybe people who eat more of these foods also have other habits that increase cancer risk.
Analysis score
Maximum 72 for a cohort study.
Where the score came from
Scientists tracked what people ate for nearly 8 years and found that those who drank a lot of diet drinks with artificial sweeteners like aspartame had slightly more cancer cases.
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.
- 1A 13%–22% higher risk sounds small, but since millions of people consume these sweeteners daily, even a small increase could affect many people over time.
- 2People who ate more artificial sweeteners had a 13%–15% higher chance of getting cancer overall.
- 3Aspartame was linked to a 22% higher risk of breast cancer in women.
- 4Sucralose showed no link.
Score breakdown, methodology, conflicts of interest, evidence analysis & raw study data
Publication
Journal
Nutrients
Year
2022
Authors
Tongxin Yin, Jiaoyuan Li, Yi Wang, Ke-Jia Liu, Tingting Long, Liming Cheng
Related Content
Videos (1)
Claims (5)
People who consume artificial sweeteners have a measurable link to cancer risk that is not due to their body weight or weight gain over time.
Women who consume more aspartame have a 22% higher rate of breast cancer compared to those who consume less, according to data from a large observational study that accounted for other factors like menopause and hormone use.
Adults who consume more artificial sweeteners like aspartame and acesulfame-K have a 13% to 15% higher rate of developing cancer compared to those who consume less.
People who consume more artificial sweeteners and aspartame have a 13% to 15% higher incidence of obesity-related cancers, including breast, colon, liver, and endometrial cancers, compared to those with lower intake, after accounting for body mass index and weight gain.
In a large French health study, aspartame and acesulfame-K were the most common artificial sweeteners consumed and were linked to higher cancer rates, while sucralose showed no such link.
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making health decisions.