from Hacker News

Aspartame aggravates atherosclerosis through insulin-triggered inflammation

by tu7001 on 3/14/25, 10:47 AM with 87 comments

  • by n8henrie on 3/14/25, 12:37 PM

  • by kreetx on 3/14/25, 12:40 PM

    Every now and then there is an alarmist article about aspartame, and every time it's hard to tell whether moderate drinking of soft drinks is better when it had regular sugar vs when it has aspartame - can any person more familiar comment on this with regarding to current article?

  • by nisegami on 3/14/25, 12:44 PM

    So it sounds like: 1. consuming aspartame triggers insulin release (unclear if this is novel information) 2. insulin release triggers inflammation that leads to atherosclerosis (they go into further detail on the mechanism here, which appears to be novel info)

    It really doesn't seem to me like the artificial sweeteners should be the critical aspect of this finding, as this affects anything that triggers insulin release. Is there any data linking sulfonylureas with atherosclerosis? Based on this finding, one might expect that to be a consequence of their insulin releasing effect.

  • by kypro on 3/14/25, 1:35 PM

    > Here, we show that consumption of 0.15% aspartame (APM) markedly increased insulin

    Most food will "markedly increase insulin", and sugary food / drinks even more so.

    Obviously people should try to eat healthy and ideally avoid artificial sweeteners, but in reality people are not machines and they're not going to drink water and eat lean meat and veg every day just because that's what's best for them.

    It seems to me that for most people who like to occasionally consume soft drinks that switching to a comparable artificially sweetened alternative is going to be better for you even if there are still risks.

    A study titled "eating cake aggravates atherosclerosis through insulin-triggered inflammation" isn't reason to never eat cake. It's just reason to be sensible and consume in moderation.

    People have been consuming artificially flavoured foods and drinks daily for decades at this point. While these things are interesting to know and consider, no one should be concerned about this unless you're consuming an excessive amount of Aspartame. And even then it's almost certainly better for you to do that than consume excessive amounts of sugar.

  • by lenerdenator on 3/14/25, 12:25 PM

    I know that they've gone back and forth on artificial sweeteners over the years, but honestly, one of the best things I've done recently is switch over to seltzer water. Triggers all of the chemical receptors in the brain by repeating the "ritual" of drinking canned pop, but it's just water, so it's actually good for you. Also half the cost.

  • by eemil on 3/14/25, 2:38 PM

    What's with the double standard, around sugar and artificial sweeteners?

    Artificial sweeteners do not need to be as safe as bottled water.

    They just need to be less harmful than sugar. Which they are, because sugar is unequivocally, very very bad for you.

  • by MrMcCall on 3/14/25, 1:46 PM

    Doesn't aspartame partly break down into methyl alcohol if it gets too hot?

    I regularly drank Diet Cokes 25 years ago, and remember some batches would be "worse" than others.

    And, whether from cans or plasic bottles, you're either also getting the can's lining or the plastic from the container mixed into the soda, right? I mean, it's an acidic liquid, so there is bound to be some dissolution of the lining into the fluid, by my understanding, with the more the warmer the temp.

    And I do wonder what temp the bottling takes place at.

  • by mmaunder on 3/14/25, 1:27 PM

    How well established is it that aspartame produces an insulin response? For me that’s the shocker. I don’t consume any but I’ve always suspected this. It suggests that many diet sodas, sugar free gums, and sugar free foods can contribute to insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes.

  • by glimshe on 3/14/25, 1:05 PM

    Over the years I got out of all carbonated drinks and excessive coffee by phasing in homebrewed black, green and herbal teas. I feel a lot healthier and my previously chronic heartburn and gastritis magically went away.

  • by nonethewiser on 3/14/25, 1:27 PM

    TIL aspartame is considered "healthier" because it takes far less of it in calories to achieve the same level of sweetness (~200x sweeter than sugar).

  • by Havoc on 3/14/25, 1:22 PM

    Been avoiding it since day 1. At least with sugar the risks are somewhat understood.

    Then again...don't drink soda so neither here not there really

  • by sambeau on 3/14/25, 1:16 PM

    Sometimes I'm glad that artificial sweeteners taste incredibly bitter to me

  • by samfriedman on 3/14/25, 1:22 PM

        >Data and code availability
    >No original code was generated in this study.
    Oh come on. I thought Cell was more strict than this.

  • by klipklop on 3/14/25, 11:03 PM

    In mice with their genes edited and taking in 0.15% of aspartame in their diet. How am I supposed to take this seriously?

  • by cynicalpeace on 3/14/25, 1:13 PM

    The lesson again and again is to simply eat whole foods.

    ...cue the onslaught of wise-guy comments claiming sliced carrots aren't whole foods.

  • by dinkblam on 3/14/25, 1:08 PM

    that aspartam is (or may be) evil is conclusive proof that ALL sweeteners are bad for you! they are the worst! all crazy people have been right!