Meta-analysisindependent cross-checkabstract checked I-UPF-115 standard review

Artificial sweeteners and cancer: pooled studies

Can Artificial Sweeteners Increase the Risk of Cancer Incidence and Mortality: Evidence from Prospective Studies.

Overview

Yan S et al.. Nutrients 2022 · PMID 36145117 · DOI 10.3390/nu14183742

Across 25 studies, sweeteners were not linked to cancer overall; a small link appeared only in European studies.

Does the study support the specific claim? Partly · Methodological quality: moderate

Study explained simply

What did the researchers want to find out?: To pool studies on sweeteners and cancer.
How was the study done?: Meta-analysis of cohorts.
How many people, animals or samples were studied?: 3.7 million people.
What was actually found?: No overall cancer link; small European signal.
How large was the observed effect?: Europe 1.07 (1.02-1.12).
What do the results mean in everyday life?: The cancer link is uncertain.
What are the study's limitations?: Observational; subgroups.
What does it say about Elawady's specific claim?: Mixed for C-UPF-07.
Do the results apply to Germany and Europe?: Applicable.
What can explicitly not be concluded from this study?: Cannot prove harm or safety.

Authors: Yan S et al.
Journal: Nutrients
Year: 2022
Identifier: PMID 36145117 DOI 10.3390/nu14183742 · PMC9506029
Verification: verified – PubMed efetch 2026-10-26; Crossref works API 2026-10-26
Retracted: no
Corrections: none
Extent checked: abstract only
Conflicts of interest and funding: COI statement in record: The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Are artificial sweeteners associated with cancer incidence and mortality?

Study design: Meta-analysis – Meta-analysis of prospective observational studies
Population: Adults in cohort studies
Country: Multinational
Period: Search to July 2022
Sample size: 25 studies; 3,739,775 participants
Inclusion and exclusion criteria: Prospective observational studies

Results: No apparent association with overall cancer incidence or mortality. Europe subgroup: cancer incidence HR/RR 1.07 (1.02-1.12; I2 25.8%). Aspartame and mixed sweetener subgroups significant. All-cause mortality HR/RR 1.13 (1.03-1.25; I2 79.7%), J-shaped.
Absolute risks: not reported in abstract
Authors' conclusion: Artificial sweeteners showed no apparent association with overall cancer; a European subgroup and mortality showed higher risk; more data needed.

CIs log-symmetric (stats/C-UPF-07_sweeteners.py).

Overall cancer null; contradicts the cancer part except in subgroups.

NutriNet-Sante positive associations.

European subgroup 1.07.

Mixed for cancer.

Multidimensional assessment
Multidimensional assessment
Authenticity of the source	verified
Methodological quality	moderate
Risk of bias	some concerns
Precision of results	moderate
Directness	direct
Reproducibility	partly replicated
Consistency with the overall evidence	inconsistent
Regional transferability	high
Adequacy of the interpretation (by the archive)	not applicable

Reasons for European subgroup signal.