Sugar substitute blamed for causing chronic anxiety

Scientists at Florida State University noted that mice that received aspartame exhibited anxiety-like behavior, and this behavior was inherited in offspring.

Artificial sweeteners are a sturdy part of our daily food and drink - from cereals and yogurts to chewing gum and instant coffee. They are even part of pharmaceuticals, helping to reduce the efficacy of drugs like antibiotics. They are marketed as a healthy, low-calorie alternative to fat, tooth-spoiling sugar.

But a growing body of scientific evidence raises questions about the safety and efficacy of artificial sweeteners and suggests that the chemicals they contain could harm our brains and bodies. The World Health Organization has drafted guidelines stating that artificial sweeteners should not be used to control weight or "reduce the risk of noncommunicable diseases" such as type 2 diabetes or cardiovascular disease.

Recent concerns include evidence that artificial sweeteners can affect our mental well-being. For example, the sweetener aspartame can increase the risk of chronic anxiety—and it can even be passed on to offspring. They also found that exposure to aspartame in mice alters genes that regulate the amygdala, an area of the brain that can cause anxiety and fear in mice and humans.

Moreover, these were not huge doses for a long period of time: the mice were given a sweetener for 12 weeks with drinking water at a dose of 8 mg per kg of body weight, equivalent to less than one-sixth of the maximum daily recommended intake by humans.

Researchers speculate that aspartame may have such effects because when eaten, it breaks down into aspartic acid, phenylalanine, and methanol, chemicals that "have a strong effect on the central nervous system".

The study found that these effects also cause genetic changes that can be passed down from generation to generation. The report warns: "Anxiety and alterations in the expression of amygdala genes occur over two generations descending from males exposed to aspartame."

Instead of weight loss, diabetes: WHO warns of sugar substitute problem

Substituting sugar for sweeteners will not help you lose weight and can cause health problems, according to new recommendations from the World Health Organization.

People should not use sugar-free sweeteners, such as aspartame, that is found in diet , in an attempt to lose weight or prevent diet-related illnesses such as type 2 diabetes. Other popular sugar substitutes in the WHO document include sugars and stevia.

People should eat foods with natural sugars, such as fruits, and avoid sugary foods and beverages instead of sugar substitutes. The new recommendation is based on a systematic review of evidence that the use of sugar-free sweeteners "does not offer any long-term benefit in reducing body fat in adults or children."

Long-term observational studies have shown that people who consume many substitutes for sugar found in everything from diet drinks to toothpaste are at higher risk of obesity, cardiovascular disease and diabetes.

Clinical trials have shown that replacing sugar with sweeteners can lead to weight loss, but only in the short term. And long-term use of sugar substitutes can have "potential adverse effects" such as an increased risk of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular diseases such as heart attack or stroke.

"Substituting free sugars for NSS does not help to control weight in the long run."