Long-term aspartame use linked to brain and heart risks, study finds
A new study suggests that regularly consuming aspartame—even at levels below what health agencies say is safe—can have detrimental effects on your brain and heart over time.
The research was done in mice, but it raises questions about the long-term effects of this common sweetener.
Even low doses caused problems in mice
Mice given small amounts of aspartame for a year showed signs of metabolic damage.
That's concerning, since the dose was just one-sixth of what's considered "safe" for humans.
Brain function and metabolism took a hit
Aspartame messed with how the mice's brains used energy.
At first, their brains soaked up more glucose than normal, but after several months, that dropped way below healthy levels.
There was also a spike in lactate—a sign their brains weren't running efficiently.
Heart health and fat storage were affected too
The mice had hearts that didn't pump as well and shifted fat from under the skin to around organs (the kind doctors worry about).
They also lost lean muscle mass, which can stress metabolism further.
Insulin spikes and artery issues showed up quickly
Just three cans' worth of diet soda per day (in mouse terms) led to insulin spikes and artery plaque buildup within 12 weeks—unless the mice lacked the receptor for a certain inflammatory protein (CX3CL1).
This hints at possible ways to reduce some risks in the future.