United States: Research conducted in Sweden indicates a daily consumption of just a few cans of diet soda increases your risk for cardiac arrest along with dangerous strokes.
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Tests revealed that aspartame exists in Diet Coke with ketchup and candy products, and this chemical contributes to the formation of dangerous fatty deposits in artery walls.
The accumulation of fat cells, known as atherosclerosis, produces reduced blood flow from heart vessels as blood vessels narrow, thus leading to systemic heart damage.
Broken sections from the fatty plaque create dangerous blockages in blood vessels, which subsequently lead to potential heart attack and stroke conditions
The researchers who performed the mouse study argued that their results revealed cause for concern since artificial sweeteners are extensively used by many people.
What do the experts warn about?
Experts outside the study have warned that the research produces concerning results, although its reliability remains incomplete.
An experimental investigation conducted by Karolinska Institute scientists, together with their US and Chinese collaborators, provided rodents with 12-week daily dietary aspartame consumption.
Scientists equated this sweetener consumption to three daily diet soda cans for human beings. Specialists examined tissue samples of mice that consumed aspartame and contrasted them against mice that received no aspartame feed.
Research on mice showed aspartame consumption resulted in an increase of fatty plaques along with elevated inflammation throughout their arteries, which leads to cardiovascular disease manifestations.
Further blood examinations on the mice demonstrated that their aspartame consumption triggered blood sugar elevation comparable to sugar consumption.
The scientific report published in Cell Metabolism demonstrated that this blood sugar peak triggered CX3CL1 protein production increases.
According to Professor Yihai Cao, the senior author of the study, chronic disease expertise revealed that this protein functioned similarly to adhesive material on blood vessels’ inner walls, which facilitated plaque formation.
“Because blood flow through the artery is strong and robust, most chemicals would be quickly washed away as the heart pumps,” he added.
“Surprisingly, not CX3CL1. It stays glued to the surface of the inner lining of blood vessels. There, it acts like a bait, catching cells as they pass by,” he continued.
While acknowledging the study has limited implications for people, Professor Cao said the team now plans to verify the findings in humans.
Furthermore, he stated, “Artificial sweeteners have penetrated almost all kinds of food, so we have to know the long-term health impact,” Daily Mail reported.