Artificially sweetened beverages reduce the risk of fatal colorectal cancer

Protect artificially sweetened drinks from cancer?

Consumption of artificially sweetened beverages appears to be associated with a significantly lower risk of colorectal cancer recurrence and cancer death. This is the result of a recent study by the Yale Cancer Center.

The scientists found in their recent research that drinking artificially sweetened beverages appears to be associated with a lower risk of colorectal cancer recurrence and cancer death. The physicians published the results of their study in the English language journal "PLOS ONE".

So-called soft drinks are often artificially sweetened. Physicians now found that artificially sweetened drinks can protect against death from colon cancer. (Image: Jag_cz / fotolia.com)

Are artificially sweetened drinks really unhealthy?

Artificially sweetened drinks have a rather bad reputation. It is said that consumption can lead to various health risks, which, however, are never really documented, explains study author Dr. Charles S. Fox from the Yale Cancer Center.

Artificially sweetened drinks can prevent recurrence of cancer

The results of the study clearly show that the recurrence of cancer and cancer-related deaths in patients treated for advanced colorectal cancer is reduced by consuming artificially sweetened beverages. This is a really exciting finding, scientists say.

Experts examined more than 1,000 participants

Dr. Fuchs and his team of researchers found that when analyzing 1,018 patients in total, those who ingested one or more 12-ounce portions (about 340 grams) of artificially sweetened beverages a day were at risk of cancer recurrence or cancer death by 46 percent compared to patients who did not consume such drinks. The so-called soft drinks included, for example, caffeine-containing coke, caffeine-free coke and other carbonated drinks.

Replace sugar with sweetener?

A second analysis then showed that about half of this benefit is due to the substitution of a sugar-sweetened beverage with an artificially sweetened beverage, the experts explain. While the association between the recurrence of colorectal cancer and death was somewhat stronger than researchers had suggested, the findings are consistent with anything that is generally known about colorectal cancer risk, the authors of the study explain.

Artificial sweetened drinks are a healthier alternative

Factors such as obesity, sedentary lifestyle, and a diet associated with diabetes result in an excess of energy balance and are already known risk factors. The physicians found that the use of artificially sweetened beverages poses no health risk to the recurrence and survival of colorectal cancer, but rather has a health benefit, the researchers add. (As)