Bitter blow for diet soft drink lovers as groundbreaking Aussie research reveals what it's really doing to your body
The research out of Melbourne's Monash University suggests artificial sweeteners could raise the risk of developing the disease by nearly 40 per cent.
Drinks using these ingredients - which do not raise blood sugar as much as regular sucrose despite being sweeter - are often marketed as a healthier alternative to the traditional sugar-filled beverages they replace.
Health agencies have been debating ways to decrease sugar intake - including a tax on the product to curb its demand - after it was linked with the obesity epidemic in the West.
RMIT University teamed up with Monash University to produce the new study, led by Distinguished Professor Barbora de Courten, that followed more than 36,000 people over nearly 14 years.
Professor de Courten said one of the most shocking discoveries was that even people who are a healthy weight have a significant risk of developing diabetes via sweeteners.
In recent years there has been a rise of natural alterative sweeteners such as stevia and monk fruit instead of older artificial products like like the out-of-fashion aspartame and saccharin.
The study did not specify between the different types of artificial sweeteners.
The results of the study were adjusted based on the weight measurement of participants, which only impacted the results of the artificial sugar test group.
This implied that these drinks increased the risk of illness regardless of how heavy the person was who drank them.
Professor de Courten advised health professionals to be cautious about what they recommend to patients.
'Artificial sweeteners are often recommended to people at risk of diabetes as a healthier alternative, but our results suggest they may pose their own health risks,' she said.
Co-author, Monash PhD student Robel Hussen Kabthymer warned, however, that the findings did not mean normal sugar drinks are suddenly any healthier.
The study found regular sugary drinks increased the risk of type II diabetes by about 23 per cent and 'surprisingly' artificial sweeteners increased it by about 38 per cent.
Researchers discovered adults who drank seven or more of sugar soft drinks per week had a 23 per cent higher chance of developing the disease.
Those who drank the same amount of artificial sugar drinks had a 38 per cent chance of the same happening to them.
Professor de Courten suggested other factors like artificial sweeteners' impact on gut bacteria might be to blame.
More than 36,000 people took part in the research which was assisted by volunteers from Cancer Council Victoria.
The research took place over 14 years and its final result has been published in the Diabetes & Metabolism journal.
These findings follow experts having implored the Albanese government to tax sugar in order to make the country healthier.
MP Michael Freelander has previously been a vocal advocate for the proposed tax which he said should come alongside a broader public education effort about the harms of excess sugar.
The Australian Medical Association (AMA) has specifically proposed a new tax at a rate of 50c per 100g of added sugar for each of these drinks to be paid by beverage manufacturers.
The association believes this will curb Australia's dualling diabetes and obesity epidemics.
If it were to be introduced it would mean a 375mL of normal Coke with 39.8g of sugar would be hit with a tax of 19.9c.
The Albanese government has rejected the idea for a new tax and has instead said it will work with manufacturers to bring sugar contents down.
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The Independent
an hour ago
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