Aspartame is an artificial sweetener that is 180-200 times sweeter than sucrose and widely used worldwide, such as Equal and NutraSweet products. Studies have revealed it may cause weight gain, neurodegeneration, fibromyalgia symptoms, allergy/skin issues as well as phenylketonuria (PKU). Aspartame breaks down into formaldehyde when consumed, leading to damage in the central nervous system and DNA, cancer risk increases, neurotoxin symptoms and several studies suggesting carcinogenicity to developing foetuses. Aspartame can lead to an accumulation of methyl groups in the brain, leading to decreased cognitive performance and depression. Furthermore, its use is an endocrine disruptor, inhibiting alkaline phosphatase which is necessary for bone formation.
Gul et al conducted research which demonstrated how low-calorie sweeteners increase glucose intolerance in mice by inhibiting their intestinal alkaline phosphatase enzyme, leading to calcium demineralization and osteoporosis. Chopra and coworkers revealed how aspartame intake increased insulin levels among humans.
Long-term consumption of aspartame or saccharin was linked with an increased risk of incident obesity in a CARDIA cohort study, independent of diet or energy intake. This finding may be explained by its role in increasing fructose absorption which leads to positive feedback mechanisms within gut microbiota leading to an imbalance between proinflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines. Furthermore, Kristensen et al reported that consumption of SSBs correlates to lower BMD in female participants than men.
