Artificial Sweeteners Are Being Investigated By Experts

Soft drinks are somehow linked to obesity and diabetes. People are most likely to convert to diet sodas. Experts now investigate the amount of artificial sweetener that the body absorbs.

The National Institute of Diabetes, Digestive, and Kidney Disease at the National Institutes of Health formed a team of researchers and conducted a study. The team analyzes how children and adults absorb the sweeteners into the blood stream and found the chemicals sucralose and acesulfame-potassium at a higher rate in younger participants.

Research links the artificial sweetener sucralose to #cancer, specifically leukemia. #Splenda https://t.co/y8t8MHx3Ck

— Dr. Joseph Mercola (@mercola) October 18, 2016

In the study, scientists measured the levels of artificial sweetener in the bloodstreams of the participants after consuming a can of diet soda. The research gathered a group of 22 adults ages between 18 and 45 and a group of 11 children ages between 6 and 12. All of the participants do not have any medical conditions. The experts found that the group of children has double the concentrations of plasma sucralose in their bloodstreams after drinking a single 12-ounce can of diet soda, compared to the adults.

Study identifies how much artificial sweetener is absorbed into blood - https://t.co/ou2Lsgws5B https://t.co/qHM6YiJafb — Dr Richard Palmquist (@DrRPalmquist) October 25, 2016

The researchers claimed that the result of the study adds to their previous work. In their past work, the experts show that these sweeteners were also present in breast milk when mothers consumed certain foods, beverages or medicines. They explained that the kidneys of children under 2 years old have less filtration rate. They added that blood levels of artificial sweeteners in infants could proportionately be even higher.

The findings were published in the journal Toxicological & Environmental Chemistry. The study's release comes as many medical scientists and consumers are concerned over the long-term effects of artificial sweeteners. The research team warns early exposure to the chemicals may negatively influence a child's future taste, diet preferences and metabolic rate, according to UPI.