A new study has revealed that the artificial sweetener "Neotame," which is used in many candies, soft drinks, and gum, may cause serious health risks. The study found that consuming even a small amount of it could lead to irritable bowel syndrome and insulin resistance, according to the British newspaper "The Guardian."
Researchers stated that the findings confirm that some of the new generation of sweeteners, which give food products an extremely sweet taste, may have a "toxic effect" on health. The lead author of the study, Havovi Chitchagger, explained that while sweeteners might be a healthier alternative to sugar, some of them could be harmful to consumers.
Both Chitchagger, an associate professor at Anglia Ruskin University in the UK, and co-author Aparna Sheel from Jahangirnagar University in Bangladesh, noted that "Neotame represents a health threat because it can harm the gut by making (good bacteria) sick and damaging the intestinal wall."
Chitchagger added: "There is now increased awareness of the health effects of sweeteners like saccharin, sucralose, and aspartame, as our previous work showed the problems they can cause to the intestinal wall and the damage they inflict on the good bacteria formed in our intestines."
He continued: "This can lead to a range of potential health issues, including diarrhea, intestinal inflammation, and even blood poisoning if bacteria enter the bloodstream." He emphasized that even consuming small amounts of "Neotame" could be harmful, explaining: "Even when we studied the impact of Neotame at very low concentrations, 10 times lower than the acceptable daily intake, we observed a breakdown of the intestinal barrier and a change in bacterial behavior towards a more harmful pattern, including increased invasion of healthy intestinal cells, leading to cell death."
In 2010, the European Food Safety Authority declared that Neotame is "safe for use," and since then, it has been approved for use in more than 35 countries. However, the authority is now reviewing the safety of this sweetener as part of what Chitchagger described as a series of evidence-based risk assessments that may lead to a reevaluation of some sweeteners.
Neotame was first used in 2002 as an alternative to the sweetener "Aspartame" in several countries due to concerns raised about the latter. It is sold under different brand names and is more than 200 times sweeter than regular sugar but with significantly fewer calories, according to the European Food Safety Authority.
Diabetes patients and those suffering from obesity commonly use "Aspartame" as a sugar substitute, as it is one of the most widely used sweeteners, both on its own and in the production of many low-calorie foods.
In July, two organizations related to the World Health Organization announced that the sweetener aspartame is a "potential carcinogen," but it remains safe when consumed at already agreed-upon levels. However, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration stated that it "disagrees with the World Health Organization's conclusion that studies support classifying aspartame as a potential carcinogen for humans." Authorities in the United States, Europe, and other countries have confirmed that the use of "aspartame" in food products is "safe" at specified amounts. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has determined the allowed daily intake of "aspartame" to be 50 milligrams per kilogram of body weight.
