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Economic Times
8 hours ago
- Health
- Economic Times
Sugar and sweeteners might not be safe for your children due to this reason, here's what a new study revealed
A recent study presented at the Endocrine Society's meeting suggests a potential link between sugar and artificial sweeteners and an increased risk of early puberty in children, particularly those genetically predisposed. Researchers found that higher consumption of sweeteners like sucralose and glycyrrhizin was associated with early puberty, with gender-specific effects observed. Puberty is the stage when a child's body changes and matures into an adult body. It usually starts between 8 and 13 for girls and 9 and 14 for boys. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Central Precocious Puberty Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads How was the research conducted? A new study has found that sugar and artificial sweeteners might increase the risk of early puberty in children . Puberty is the stage when a child's body changes and matures into an adult body. It usually starts between 8 and 13 for girls and 9 and 14 for boys, according to the Cleveland at the Endocrine Society's annual meeting in San Francisco reported on Sunday, July 13, 2025, that sugar, aspartame (Equal), sucralose (Splenda), and glycyrrhizin (licorice root) are all mainly linked with a higher risk of early puberty , particularly in genetically predisposed children, according to news portal US researchers underlined that the more of these sweeteners that children consumed, the greater their risk of early puberty. They analyzed data on more than 1,400 teens in Taiwan, of whom 481 experienced a form of early puberty called central precocious Precocious Puberty occurs in a child when the brain releases gonadotropin-releasing hormone too early, causing the testes or ovaries to start generating sex hormones, the Cleveland Clinic said, according to US with this condition may grow quickly at first but stop earlier than usual, causing them to be shorter-than-average adults. As a long-term effect, children may be at higher risk of heart disease, certain cancers, and type 2 carry out the new study, researchers used questionnaires and urine samples to assess the intake of sweeteners by teens. They also tested their genetic predisposition using a panel of 19 genes related to central precocious the study, it was discovered that early puberty was not connected to certain sweeteners only, but boys and girls responded to different types of sweeteners. Sucralose increases early puberty risk in boys, while glycyrrhizin, sucralose, and added sugars increase risk in girls, results of research Dr. Yang-Ching Chen, a professor of family medicine at Taipei Municipal Wan Fang Hospital and Taipei Medical University in Taiwan, said that the results highlight 'gender differences in how sweeteners affect boys and girls.'The findings are directly relevant to families, pediatricians, and public health authorities,' Chen said. 'They suggest that screening for genetic risk and moderating sweetener intake could help prevent early puberty and its long-term health consequences. This could lead to new dietary guidelines or risk assessment tools for children, supporting healthier development.'It is pertinent to mention that this was an observational study, and it could not establish a direct cause-and-effect link between sweeteners and early puberty. The US News report suggested that findings presented at medical meetings should be considered preliminary until published in a peer-reviewed journal.
Time of India
9 hours ago
- Health
- Time of India
Sugar and sweeteners might not be safe for your children due to this reason, here's what a new study revealed
A recent study presented at the Endocrine Society's meeting suggests a potential link between sugar and artificial sweeteners and an increased risk of early puberty in children, particularly those genetically predisposed. Researchers found that higher consumption of sweeteners like sucralose and glycyrrhizin was associated with early puberty, with gender-specific effects observed. Puberty is the stage when a child's body changes and matures into an adult body. It usually starts between 8 and 13 for girls and 9 and 14 for boys. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Central Precocious Puberty Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads How was the research conducted? A new study has found that sugar and artificial sweeteners might increase the risk of early puberty in children . Puberty is the stage when a child's body changes and matures into an adult body. It usually starts between 8 and 13 for girls and 9 and 14 for boys, according to the Cleveland at the Endocrine Society's annual meeting in San Francisco reported on Sunday, July 13, 2025, that sugar, aspartame (Equal), sucralose (Splenda), and glycyrrhizin (licorice root) are all mainly linked with a higher risk of early puberty , particularly in genetically predisposed children, according to news portal US researchers underlined that the more of these sweeteners that children consumed, the greater their risk of early puberty. They analyzed data on more than 1,400 teens in Taiwan, of whom 481 experienced a form of early puberty called central precocious Precocious Puberty occurs in a child when the brain releases gonadotropin-releasing hormone too early, causing the testes or ovaries to start generating sex hormones, the Cleveland Clinic said, according to US with this condition may grow quickly at first but stop earlier than usual, causing them to be shorter-than-average adults. As a long-term effect, children may be at higher risk of heart disease, certain cancers, and type 2 carry out the new study, researchers used questionnaires and urine samples to assess the intake of sweeteners by teens. They also tested their genetic predisposition using a panel of 19 genes related to central precocious the study, it was discovered that early puberty was not connected to certain sweeteners only, but boys and girls responded to different types of sweeteners. Sucralose increases early puberty risk in boys, while glycyrrhizin, sucralose, and added sugars increase risk in girls, results of research Dr. Yang-Ching Chen, a professor of family medicine at Taipei Municipal Wan Fang Hospital and Taipei Medical University in Taiwan, said that the results highlight 'gender differences in how sweeteners affect boys and girls.'The findings are directly relevant to families, pediatricians, and public health authorities,' Chen said. 'They suggest that screening for genetic risk and moderating sweetener intake could help prevent early puberty and its long-term health consequences. This could lead to new dietary guidelines or risk assessment tools for children, supporting healthier development.'It is pertinent to mention that this was an observational study, and it could not establish a direct cause-and-effect link between sweeteners and early puberty. The US News report suggested that findings presented at medical meetings should be considered preliminary until published in a peer-reviewed journal.
Newsweek
a day ago
- Health
- Newsweek
Children Consuming Common Sweeteners Face Higher Early Puberty Risk
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Common sweeteners found in foods and drinks may significantly increase the risk of early puberty in children, new research shows. The findings come from a large-scale study that was presented on today at ENDO 2025, the Endocrine Society's annual meeting in San Francisco. Researchers analyzed data from more than 1,400 adolescents and found a strong link between sweetener consumption and central precocious puberty, a condition where puberty begins unusually early—typically before age eight in girls and nine in boys. Central precocious puberty is becoming more common worldwide and can have lasting health consequences, including emotional challenges, shorter adult height and an increased risk of reproductive and metabolic disorders later in life. The increased risk from sweeteners was also notably elevated among teens with specific genetic markers associated with early puberty onset. Close Up Of Girl Drinking Sugary Fizzy Soda From Glass With Straw Close Up Of Girl Drinking Sugary Fizzy Soda From Glass With Straw Daisy-Daisy "This study is one of the first to connect modern dietary habits—specifically sweetener intake—with both genetic factors and early puberty development in a large, real-world cohort," said Yang-Ching Chen, M.D., Ph.D., of Taipei Municipal Wan Fang Hospital and Taipei Medical University in Taipei, Taiwan. The study, part of the ongoing Taiwan Pubertal Longitudinal Study (TPLS) launched in 2018, analyzed data on 1,407 adolescents, of whom 481 were diagnosed with central precocious puberty. Researchers assessed dietary intake using questionnaires and urine testing and measured genetic risk using polygenic risk scores based on 19 genes related to early puberty. The study revealed gender-specific effects of common sweeteners, which include aspartame, sucralose, glycyrrhizin (a compound found in licorice) and added sugars. In girls, consumption of glycyrrhizin, sucralose and added sugars was linked to a higher risk of central precocious puberty. In boys, sucralose stood out as the most significant sweetener associated with early puberty onset. These sweeteners are commonly found in a wide range of everyday foods and drinks, including diet sodas, flavored yogurts, sugar-free gums, protein bars, cereals and even some children's medications. Researchers also found a dose-response relationship: the more sweeteners consumed, the higher the risk. The findings build on Chen's earlier work, which showed that sweeteners can disrupt hormonal regulation and gut microbiota balance. For instance, acesulfame potassium (AceK), another common artificial sweetener, was previously shown to activate brain cell receptors involved in "sweet taste" pathways, increasing the release of puberty-related hormones and stress molecules. Glycyrrhizin was also found to alter gut bacteria and suppress key genes that regulate puberty timing. "This suggests that what children eat and drink, especially products with sweeteners, may have a surprising and powerful impact on their development," Chen said. The findings could have far-reaching implications for dietary guidelines and pediatric care. Chen emphasized that monitoring sweetener intake and considering a child's genetic predisposition may be critical in preventing early puberty and its associated long-term health risks. "These results are directly relevant to families, pediatricians, and public health authorities," Chen said. "They suggest that screening for genetic risk and moderating sweetener intake could help prevent early puberty and its long-term health consequences." Do you have a tip on a health story that Newsweek should be covering? Do you have a question about children's health? Let us know via health@
