WHO: Aspartame potentially carcinogenic
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Key takeaways:
- One of the most popular artificial sweeteners is a potential carcinogen.
- A WHO committee said people should only consume 40 mg/kg of body weight daily.
One of the most popular artificial sweeteners is a potential carcinogen and people should consume only 40 mg/kg body weight daily, according to WHO committees.
WHO’s International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) declared aspartame, which is used in products ranging from zero-sugar sodas like Diet Coke to sugar-free gum, toothpaste and cough drops, to be a potential carcinogen, according to a press release.
“Cancer is one of the leading causes of death globally. Every year, one in six people die from cancer. Science is continuously expanding to assess the possible initiating or facilitating factors of cancer, in the hope of reducing these numbers and the human toll,” Francesco Branca, PhD, director of WHO’s department of nutrition and food safety, said in the release. “The assessments of aspartame have indicated that, while safety is not a major concern at the doses which are commonly used, potential effects have been described that need to be investigated by more and better studies.”
The IARC assesses if something is a potential hazard and does not make statements on how much of a product a person should consume. Those recommendations come from the Joint WHO and Food and Agriculture Organization's Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA). The bodies conducted complementary but independent reviews to assess the potential carcinogenic hazard and other health risks associated with consuming aspartame.
IARC decision
The IARC’s classification of aspartame as group 2B, possibly carcinogenic, is based on scientific data collected from a range of sources like peer-reviewed papers, studies conducted for regulatory purposes and governmental reports. They found limited evidence for cancer in humans — specifically hepatocellular carcinoma, a type of liver cancer.
The IARC also noted limited evidence related to the possible mechanisms for causing cancer and limited evidence for cancer in experimental animals.
“The findings of limited evidence of carcinogenicity in humans and animals, and of limited mechanistic evidence on how carcinogenicity may occur, underscore the need for more research to refine our understanding on whether consumption of aspartame poses a carcinogenic hazard,” Mary Schubauer-Berigan, PhD, MS, head of the IARC Monographs program, said in the release.
JECFA ruling
JECFA’s risk assessments determine the probability of a type of harm occurring under certain conditions and levels of exposure, according to the release, and it is not unusual for JECFA to take IARC rulings into consideration.
The committee ultimately decided that there was no sufficient reason from the data to change the previously established acceptable daily intake of up to 40 mg/kg of body weight for aspartame, reaffirming that it is safe for a person to consume aspartame within this limit per day.
The press release offered an example: with a can of diet soft drink containing 200 or 300 mg of aspartame, an adult weighing 70 kg would need to consume more than nine to 14 cans per day to exceed the acceptable daily intake.
“JECFA also considered the evidence on cancer risk, in animal and human studies, and concluded that the evidence of an association between aspartame consumption and cancer in humans is not convincing,” Moez Sanaa, PhD, WHO’s head of the Standards and Scientific Advice on Food and Nutrition Unit, said in the release. “We need better studies with longer follow-up and repeated dietary questionnaires in existing cohorts. We need randomized controlled trials, including studies of mechanistic pathways relevant to insulin regulation, metabolic syndrome and diabetes, particularly as related to carcinogenicity.”
WHO will continue monitoring new evidence and encouraging independent research groups to develop further studies on the potential connections between aspartame exposure and consumer health, according to the release.
References:
- Aspartame hazard and risk assessment results released. https://www.who.int/news/item/14-07-2023-aspartame-hazard-and-risk-assessment-results-released. Published July 14, 2023. Accessed July 14, 2023.
- Riboli E, et al. Lancet Oncol. 2023;doi: 10.1016/S1470-2045(23)00341-8.
- Summary of findings of the evaluation of aspartame at the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) Monographs Programme’s 134th Meeting. https://www.iarc.who.int/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Summary_of_findings_Aspartame.pdf. Published July 14, 2023. Accessed July 14, 2023.
Perspective
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Sara (Mandy) Reece, PharmD, CDCES, BC-ADM, BCACP, FADCES, FCCP
WHO's recent declaration of aspartame as a potential carcinogen has created confusion. Historically, aspartame, an alternative sweetener to sugar, is found in many diet sodas and “sugar-free” foods. For years, health care professionals working with persons with diabetes or prediabetes have recommended avoiding sugar sweetened sodas and high-sugar sweet treats. So now what is a safe alternative to sugar?This declaration is problematic in terms of it being “potential,” so it is unclear how much and what length of time of consumption is potentially carcinogenic. Bottom line is the old adage of all things in moderation is true with aspartame.
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