Which artificial sweetener is the safest choice?

There’s mounting evidence that artificial sweeteners may be linked to heart disease and other possible health risks.

There’s mounting evidence that artificial sweeteners may be linked to heart disease and other possible health risks. Scientists say the findings are far from definitive, however, with some leading researchers calling for better-designed clinical trials investigating the long-term health effects of sugar substitutes.

That’s why, in separate trials, researchers are actively working to get a clearer understanding of how artificial sweeteners affect blood glucose levels, gut microbiome health and the cardiovascular system. Some studies are beginning to compare the alternatives against each other, while others hope to learn how they affect the body compared to sugar.

As it is, it’s difficult for consumers to determine which sugar alternative carries the fewest health risks. Most of the research is observational, meaning it doesn’t prove cause and effect. In some cases, researchers looked at people who ate nonsugar sweeteners, analyzed their incidence of certain health risks like heart attacks or diabetes, then noted associations between the two.

All the widely consumed alternatives such as saccharin, aspartame, sucralose, stevia, xylitol and erythritol are approved by the Food and Drug Administration. They’re found in countless products including sports drinks, energy bars, yogurts, cereals, beverages, candies, baked goods and syrups.

Even with FDA approval, Dr. Dariush Mozaffarian, a cardiologist and professor of nutrition science and policy at Tufts University, said “they’re all potentially worrisome and all understudied.”

https://www.nbcnews.com/health/heart-health/artificial-sweetener-safety-sugar-research-rcna159983

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