{"id":40520,"date":"2023-07-21T15:34:00","date_gmt":"2023-07-21T15:34:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bensnaturalhealth.com\/blog\/?post_type=generalhealth&p=40520"},"modified":"2026-05-30T12:01:26","modified_gmt":"2026-05-30T12:01:26","slug":"does-aspartame-cause-cancer","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.bensnaturalhealth.com\/blog\/general-health\/does-aspartame-cause-cancer\/","title":{"rendered":"Does Aspartame Cause Cancer? Current Research and Evidence"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Aspartame is a widely used artificial sweetener, which is 180-200 times sweeter than commonly used white sugar, i.e., sucrose. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is used as a low-calorie sugar substitute in manufacturing many foods and beverages, typically labeled as \u201clow-sugar\u201d or \u201cdiet.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some studies suggest a potential link between aspartame and certain health outcomes, including Alzheimer\u2019s disease, dementia, cardiovascular complications, and seizures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There has also been a debate recently (July 2023) on whether aspartame causes cancer (carcinogenic). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The World Health Organization (WHO) published its report on aspartame on July 14, 2023, mentioning that aspartame may possibly cause cancer. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, the evidence-based data for aspartame to be carcinogenic is insufficient. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let\u2019s delve into the current research on aspartame and discuss whether aspartame can cause cancer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is aspartame?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Aspartame is an artificial sweetener that has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as an artificial sugar substitute since 1981. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chemically, it is a methyl ester of phenylalanine dipeptide and comes under the brand name Equal, Candereal, and NutraSweet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Being a potent sweetener, it has been widely used as a sugar substitute and food additive in many products like sugar-free beverages and drinks, syrups, gelatin, and bubble gums. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Aspartame contains four calories (17kJ) per gram and is about 200 times sweeter than sugar. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The WHO\u2019s declaration about aspartame<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The World Health Organization\u2019s Joint Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA) held multiple meetings with the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) to evaluate the evidence about the carcinogenic properties of aspartame. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Both bodies conducted complementary reviews to assess the potential carcinogenic effects of aspartame and made the following recommendations on July 14.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \n
  1. IARC has placed aspartame in Group 2B carcinogenic list, indicating that aspartame is possibly carcinogenic, but only limited evidence exists.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. JECFA reaffirmed that there\u2019s no need to change the aspartame’s accepted daily intake (ADI) range, i.e., 0-40mg\/kg body weight. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. IARC and WHO will also continue to evaluate new research studies to assess aspartame’s cancer-related potential health hazards.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
    \n

    \u201cThe evidence of an association between aspartame consumption and cancer in humans is not convincing.\u201d Said Dr. Moez Sanaa, WHO\u2019s Head of the Standards and Scientific Advice on Food and Nutrition Unit.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

    What does the FDA say about aspartame?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) disagrees with WHO\u2019s declaration about classifying aspartame as a possible carcinogen. The FDA doesn\u2019t show significant safety concerns when used under the approved conditions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Does aspartame cause cancer?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    Evidence on aspartame and cancer is mixed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Previously, some studies<\/a> have revealed a possible association between aspartame and cancers, including blood and liver cancers. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Some preclinical studies on rats have also suggested that aspartame may increase cancer risk in rodents. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Similarly, a 2022 study<\/a> published in PLOS Medicine Journal has revealed that artificial sweeteners (including aspartame and acesulfame-K) are associated with increased cancer risk.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    On the other hand, extensive research<\/a> on aspartame has shown no clear association between aspartame and cancer risk. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Considering the results of currently available studies, the WHO has declared it a possible carcinogen, but with limited and nonconvincing evidence. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    In short, although mixed evidence was present about aspartame being a carcinogen, the WHO has cleared things up to some extent by keeping it under \u201cpossible carcinogen\u201d and defining its acceptable daily intake (ADI) range.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Side effects of aspartame<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    Aspartame, and other artificial sweeteners, can cause many adverse effects and increase the risk of many diseases. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Some of them are listed below:<\/p>\n\n\n\n