Another study criticises artificial sweeteners impact on obesity
Researchers at the Imperial College London have criticised the switch from sugar beverages to artificially sweetened beverages.
Their commentary article published online by PLOS Medicine Journal on 3 January 2017 said there is a “absence of consistent evidence to support the role of artificial sweetened beverages (ASBs) in preventing weight gain”.
Artificial sweeteners include aspartame, aaccharin and sucralose. The articles authors include Maria Carolina Borges, Maria Laura Louzada, Thiago Hérick de Sá, Anthony A. Laverty, Diana C. Parra, Josefa Maria Fellegger Garzillo, Carlos Augusto Monteiro and Christopher Millett.
The researchers said with increasing action being taken to reduce the world’s intake of sugar-sweetened beverages, such as the introduction of and lobby for a ‘sugar tax’ in some countries, beverage companies are turning to artificial sweetened beverages as a profit source.
“Despite the move the researchers said “the available evidence does not directly support a role of ASBs in inducing weight gain or metabolic abnormalities but also does not consistently demonstrate that ASBs are effective for weight loss or preventing metabolic abnormalities.”
Australian Food News has previously reported on a number of studies which have criticised artificial sweeteners and their health benefits.
In July 2013, Australian Food News reported on an academic review which concluded that ‘diet beverages’ and artificially sweetened foods and drinks do not help reduce obesity.
During September 2016 Australian Food News reported on a University of Sydney review which found evidence of bias in research on the health benefits of artificial sweeteners.
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