Artificially sweetened soft drinks increase the risk of pre-term delivery
A new study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that consuming artificially sweetened soft drinks (carbonated or not) increases the risk of pre-term delivery.
This is most likely due to the artificial sweeteners, because sugar-sweetened soft drinks did not increase the risk. The artificial sweeteners in the soft drinks were aspartame, acesulfame-K, saccharin, and cyclamate. The researchers explain how aspartame’s metabolites can cause gestational complications. Be aware that other products contain artificial sweeteners too, such as vitamins, and over the counter pharmaceuticals/products. You have to read the labels of every product you use.
Saccharin accumulates in the fetus, and thus the use of this product is to be avoided during pregnancy. Saccharin has also been recently shown to cause even greater DNA damage than aspartame in another study published in the journal Drug and Chemical Toxicology, and thus this compound should especially be avoided while pregnant.
Artificial sweeteners have no place in the diet of any person, especially pregnant women.
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