Popular Sweetener Linked to Cancer Risk. Scientists Raise Alarm: First Evidence
An article describing these results was published in the journal Cancer Discovery .
Researchers analyzed the effect of a diet containing sucralose on the effectiveness of immunotherapy in patients with melanoma and non-small cell lung cancer . Those who consumed high amounts of the sweetener had poorer treatment response and lower survival rates compared to patients who avoided sucralose.
The first stage of the study involved experiments on mice. The researchers demonstrated that sucralose altered the composition of their gut microbiome , increasing the number of bacteria that degrade arginine, an amino acid crucial for the proper functioning of T lymphocytes. These lymphocytes play a crucial role in cancer immunotherapy, helping the immune system fight cancer cells.
"When arginine levels decreased due to sucralose-induced changes in the microbiome, T cells did not function properly. As a result, immunotherapy was less effective, and these mice had larger tumors and shorter lifespans," explained Professor Abby Overacre, the study's lead author.
However, when supplements with arginine or citrulline (a substance converted to arginine in the body) were included in the animals' diet, the effectiveness of the treatment was restored.
"Of course, we can recommend that cancer patients stop drinking diet soda, but they already have enough difficulties on a daily basis, so a radical change in diet may be too much for them. That's why it would be so valuable to discover that arginine supplementation could be a simple way to mitigate the negative impact of sucralose on their therapy," noted Professor Overacre.
In the next phase of the study, the researchers wanted to see if these results translated to humans. They analyzed data from 132 people with advanced melanoma or non-small cell lung cancer who were treated with immunotherapy (alone or in combination with chemotherapy). Patients completed detailed questionnaires about their dietary habits, including artificial sweetener consumption.
"We found that sucralose also limited the effectiveness of immunotherapy in humans, regardless of the type of cancer, disease stage, or treatment used," said Professor Diwakar Davar, co-author of the study. "This demonstrates the significant need to develop specialized supplements for patients who regularly consume this sweetener."
The researchers now plan to begin clinical trials to determine whether citrulline supplementation can positively impact the gut microbiome and immune response in people undergoing immunotherapy. They also want to investigate whether other artificial sweeteners—such as aspartame, saccharin, xylitol, or stevia —have similar effects.
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