24 February 2025

Potential Health Risks of Aspartame: Study Links Artificial Sweetener to Cardiovascular Disease

Artificial sweeteners have long served as low-calorie sugar substitutes. While most contain some calories, they are significantly sweeter than sugar, requiring only small amounts to achieve the desired sweetness in foods and beverages.

Research has linked artificial sweeteners to various health concerns, including digestive issues, neurological symptoms, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. A recent study in mice suggests that aspartame may contribute to heart disease by triggering insulin spikes, leading to the accumulation of fatty plaques in arteries—a major risk factor for heart attacks and strokes.

Artificial sweeteners are widely used in a range of products, including baked goods, soft drinks, candy, dairy products, jams, canned foods, and even savory items such as sauces, ready meals, and bread. The FDA has approved six artificial sweeteners for use in food: aspartame, saccharin, acesulfame potassium, sucralose, neotame, and advantame.

Aspartame, one of the most commonly used artificial sweeteners, is found in products under brand names like NutraSweet®, Equal®, and Sugar Twin®. It is approximately 200 times sweeter than sugar, meaning only a small amount is needed, despite containing some calories.

Studies suggest that frequent consumption of artificial sweeteners may have negative health effects, including gastrointestinal disturbances, headaches, taste alterations, and an increased risk of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. The latest research highlights how aspartame may contribute to cardiovascular disease by stimulating insulin release, which promotes the buildup of arterial plaques, a condition known as atherosclerosis.