Could Diet Coke be silently harming your brain health? A new study raises concerns
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The age-old saying 'Too much of anything can be harmful' applies to many things, and included on the list are soft drinks.
While an occasional sip of your favourites is fine (as long as you're within healthy limits!), you may want to reconsider reaching for a Diet Coke every day.
That's because a new study conducted by the Florida State University College of Medicine has raised some concerns about a common ingredient in Diet Coke—Aspartame—and its potential impact on memory and learning abilities.
The study was conducted on male mice over a 16-week period. Three groups of mice were observed: one group consumed an amount of aspartame equivalent to about a litre of soft drinks, representing 15 per cent of the maximum recommended daily intake by the FDA, while another group had 7 per cent of the recommended intake. The final control group was only given water.
At the end of the 16-week period, surprising data has emerged.
Mice that consumed aspartame, even within the recommended maximum daily intake, displayed spatial learning and memory deficits compared to the control group.
This meant that they took longer to complete mazes and even required additional assistance at times.
Expert in Developmental Neuroscience and the study’s Co-author, Pradeep Bhide, noted that the effects were also observed in the offspring of the mice but not in subsequent generations, raising questions about the possible epigenetic changes in sperm and its connection in transmitting cognitive effects.
Pradeep joined other experts in expressing their concerns over the possible effects of the widely used sweetener and has led the call for a multi-generational perspective on its possible effects.
Dr Kelly Johnson-Arbor, a Medical Toxicology Physician, has also emphasised the need for further research to establish a definitive relationship between Aspartame and cognitive issues because of the study’s recent findings.
It is also worth noting that this study was done on mice, and the data’s applicability to humans is still uncertain.
In similar news, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has also classified this sweetener as ‘possibly carcinogenic to humans' but did not address its possible effects on cognitive functions, which was the main focus of this study.
The popular artificial sweetener has recently caught the attention of the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) and has led to raised concerns.
Both the IARC and the (WHO) are working on developing specific guidelines for its consumption. They have thoroughly reviewed numerous published studies to inform their recommendations.
You can read more about this story here.
Despite the findings, the Calorie Control Council continue to assert the safety of the ingredient. They also highlighted the importance of factual accuracy and definitive evidence when assessing the sweetener’s safety.
Furthermore, according to Food Standards Australia & New Zealand: 'All scientific evidence to date supports the safety of aspartame for use as a sweetener.'
'However, re-evaluation work is proposed.'
Don’t forget that moderation and a balanced approach to our consumption habits are your keys to a healthier life! But be sure to check first with your doctor before making any drastic changes to your diet.
So, what are your thoughts on this recent study on Aspartame? Will you be consuming less of this sweetener moving forward? Let us know in the comments below!
While an occasional sip of your favourites is fine (as long as you're within healthy limits!), you may want to reconsider reaching for a Diet Coke every day.
That's because a new study conducted by the Florida State University College of Medicine has raised some concerns about a common ingredient in Diet Coke—Aspartame—and its potential impact on memory and learning abilities.
The study was conducted on male mice over a 16-week period. Three groups of mice were observed: one group consumed an amount of aspartame equivalent to about a litre of soft drinks, representing 15 per cent of the maximum recommended daily intake by the FDA, while another group had 7 per cent of the recommended intake. The final control group was only given water.
At the end of the 16-week period, surprising data has emerged.
A new study on the artificial sweetener Aspartame done by Florida State University has raised some concerns about its possible effect on memory and learning abilities. Image source: aspartame.org.
Mice that consumed aspartame, even within the recommended maximum daily intake, displayed spatial learning and memory deficits compared to the control group.
This meant that they took longer to complete mazes and even required additional assistance at times.
Expert in Developmental Neuroscience and the study’s Co-author, Pradeep Bhide, noted that the effects were also observed in the offspring of the mice but not in subsequent generations, raising questions about the possible epigenetic changes in sperm and its connection in transmitting cognitive effects.
Pradeep joined other experts in expressing their concerns over the possible effects of the widely used sweetener and has led the call for a multi-generational perspective on its possible effects.
Dr Kelly Johnson-Arbor, a Medical Toxicology Physician, has also emphasised the need for further research to establish a definitive relationship between Aspartame and cognitive issues because of the study’s recent findings.
It is also worth noting that this study was done on mice, and the data’s applicability to humans is still uncertain.
In similar news, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has also classified this sweetener as ‘possibly carcinogenic to humans' but did not address its possible effects on cognitive functions, which was the main focus of this study.
The popular artificial sweetener has recently caught the attention of the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) and has led to raised concerns.
Both the IARC and the (WHO) are working on developing specific guidelines for its consumption. They have thoroughly reviewed numerous published studies to inform their recommendations.
You can read more about this story here.
Despite the findings, the Calorie Control Council continue to assert the safety of the ingredient. They also highlighted the importance of factual accuracy and definitive evidence when assessing the sweetener’s safety.
Furthermore, according to Food Standards Australia & New Zealand: 'All scientific evidence to date supports the safety of aspartame for use as a sweetener.'
'However, re-evaluation work is proposed.'
So, what are your thoughts on this recent study on Aspartame? Will you be consuming less of this sweetener moving forward? Let us know in the comments below!
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