Aspartame, a popular artificial sweetener, is now listed as a substance that is “possibly carcinogenic” to humans by the International Agency for Research on Cancer, according to a Friday press release from the World Health Organization.
“It’s important to realize that this is the lowest of cancer risk that could be assigned,” said medical oncologist Dr. Dale Shepard in response to the announcement.
Per the release, the IARC cited “limited evidence” to make the classification. Assessments of the health impacts of aspartame were released in conjunction with the Food and Agriculture Organization’s Joint Expert Committee on Food Additives, and JECFA said that 40 mg/kg body weight is the acceptable daily intake of aspartame.
“The findings of limited evidence of carcinogenicity in humans and animals, and of limited mechanistic evidence on how carcinogenicity may occur, underscore the need for more research to refine our understanding on whether consumption of aspartame poses a carcinogenic hazard,” said Dr. Mary Schubauer-Berigan of the IARC Monographs program.
In the U.S., where research shows consumption of products with artificial sweeteners has been increasing, the Food and Drug Administration set a limit of 50 milligrams per kilogram of body weight, according to the American Cancer Society.
For reference, diet sodas typically have around 200 milligrams of aspartame per 12 ounce can, said Colorado State University. Based on calculations provided by the WHO, an adult weighing around 154 pounds would need to consume more than nine to 14 cans of diet soda daily to exceed the acceptable daily intake.
Aspartame can also be found in chewing gum, gelatin, ice cream, dairy products such as yogurt, breakfast cereal, toothpaste and medications such as cough drops and chewable vitamins, said the WHO.
According to a 2021 study published in the Nutrients journal, aspartame was invented in 1965 by James M. Schlatter. It said he discovered its sweetness by accident as part of research into antiulcer drugs.
“After initial obstacles to the legalization of this compound as a food additive, its large-scale production began in 1981,” said the study. “The attractiveness of aspartame as a sweetener is since it is about 200 times sweeter than sugar, while its calorific value, at the concentrations giving the impression of sweetness, is almost zero.”
This study also explained that aspartame consists of two amino acids (L-phenylalanine and L-aspartic acid) and that it is hydrolyzed and absorbed in the gastrointestinal tract through the action of esterase and peptidases.
“Digestion releases methanol (10%), aspartic acid (40%) and phenylalanine (50%), which are absorbable in the intestinal mucosa,” it said. “These metabolites can be harmful at high doses.”
To make the “possibly carcinogenic” classification, the IARC and JEFC conducted independent but related reviews of aspartame. These were based on “scientific data collected from a range of sources, including peer-reviewed papers, governmental reports and studies conducted for regulatory purposes,” said the WHO. Specifically, they cited evidence related to hepatocellular carcinoma, a type of liver cancer.
“JECFA also considered the evidence on cancer risk, in animal and human studies, and concluded that the evidence of an association between aspartame consumption and cancer in humans is not convincing,” said Dr.
Moez Sanaa, WHO’s head of the Standards and Scientific Advice on Food and Nutrition Unit. “We need better studies with longer follow-up and repeated dietary questionnaires in existing cohorts. We need randomized controlled trials, including studies of mechanistic pathways relevant to insulin regulation, metabolic syndrome and diabetes, particularly as related to carcinogenicity.”
Going forward, the IARC and WHO plan to continue monitoring new evidence and to encourage independent research groups to develop further studies on the health impact of aspartame.
“The FDA is aware of the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) and Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA) conclusions about aspartame issued July 14, 2023,” said a statement from the administration. “Aspartame being labeled by IARC as ‘possibly carcinogenic to humans’ does not mean that aspartame is actually linked to cancer,” it added.
Furthermore, the FDA said it disagreed with IARC’s conclusion that the studies reviewed support classifying aspartame as a possible carcinogen to humans and noted that some people rely on aspartame to reduce their sugar consumption.
“FDA scientists reviewed the scientific information included in IARC’s review in 2021 when it was first made available and identified significant shortcomings in the studies on which IARC relied,” it explained. “We note that JECFA did not raise safety concerns for aspartame under the current levels of use and did not change the Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI).”
According to Dr. Shepard of the Cleveland Clinic, “the key is moderation” when it comes to aspartame.
Follow KNX News 97.1 FM
Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | TikTok
Related
Related
