"Drinking Zero-Calorie Beverages for Diet? Continued Consumption May Harm Heart and Brain"

Myocardial Hypertrophy and Cognitive Decline Observed in Animal Studies
Limitations in Human Application and Need for Further Human Research

A study has found that regularly consuming carbonated beverages containing artificial sweeteners may have negative effects on heart and brain function. The research analyzes that aspartame, which is widely used in diet cola and zero-calorie drinks, may be associated with changes in heart structure and a decline in cognitive function.

Cola image to aid article understanding. Pixabay

Researchers at the Cooperative Research Center for Biomaterials in San Sebastian, Spain, announced on the 22nd that their recent paper published in the journal Biomedicine and Pharmacotherapy observed myocardial hypertrophy and cognitive decline in mice that consumed aspartame above a certain level.

According to the study, when mice were administered 7 mg of aspartame per kilogram of body weight for three consecutive days every two weeks, the risk of mild myocardial hypertrophy, which is a thickening of the heart muscle, increased by about 20%. In addition, the cardiac output of the left and right ventricles decreased by 26% and 20%, respectively. Structural changes in the ventricular septum, which divides the left and right sides of the heart, were also observed.

Neurological changes were also detected. The researchers explained that the experimental group of mice exhibited behavioral changes, cognitive decline, and the possibility of pathological changes in the brain. However, body fat decreased by about 20%, indicating some effectiveness in weight management.

Calls for Reevaluation of Intake Standards... Caution Urged on Application

The researchers stated, "While aspartame reduces fat accumulation in mice, it comes at the cost of pathological changes such as impaired heart and brain function. Even within the allowed intake standards, long-term consumption may affect the function of major organs, so it is necessary to reevaluate safety standards for humans."

Currently, the World Health Organization (WHO), the European Medicines Agency (EMA), and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommend a maximum daily intake of aspartame of no more than 50 mg per kilogram of body weight. Although the dosage administered to mice in this study was lower than the daily allowable amount, some point out that further discussion is needed due to differences in the method of repeated exposure.

However, the researchers acknowledged the limitations that the study was restricted to animals and the research period was relatively short. In response, the International Sweeteners Association (ISA) stated, "It is difficult to directly apply animal experiment results to humans," and emphasized, "Existing large-scale human studies and regulatory agency evaluations should also be considered."