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Gentry R, Greene T, Clewell HJ, Rodricks JV. Critical considerations in the review of the toxicological evidence regarding the potential carcinogenicity of aspartame. Food Chem Toxicol 2023; 182:114105. [PMID: 37852352 DOI: 10.1016/j.fct.2023.114105] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2023] [Revised: 10/13/2023] [Accepted: 10/13/2023] [Indexed: 10/20/2023]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Tracy Greene
- Ramboll US Consulting, Inc., Monroe, LA, 71201, USA
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2
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Pavanello S, Moretto A, La Vecchia C, Alicandro G. Non-sugar sweeteners and cancer: Toxicological and epidemiological evidence. Regul Toxicol Pharmacol 2023; 139:105369. [PMID: 36870410 DOI: 10.1016/j.yrtph.2023.105369] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2023] [Revised: 02/24/2023] [Accepted: 02/27/2023] [Indexed: 03/06/2023]
Abstract
Several toxicological and epidemiological studies were published during the last five decades on non-sugar sweeteners (NSS) and cancer. Despite the large amount of research, the issue still continues to be of interest. In this review, we provided a comprehensive quantitative review of the toxicological and epidemiological evidence on the possible relation between NSS and cancer. The toxicological section includes the evaluation of genotoxicity and carcinogenicity data for acesulfame K, advantame, aspartame, cyclamates, saccharin, steviol glycosides and sucralose. The epidemiological section includes the results of a systematic search of cohort and case-control studies. The majority of the 22 cohort studies and 46 case-control studies showed no associations. Some risks for bladder, pancreas and hematopoietic cancers found in a few studies were not confirmed in other studies. Based on the review of both the experimental data on genotoxicity or carcinogenicity of the specific NSS evaluated, and the epidemiological studies it can be concluded that there is no evidence of cancer risk associated to NSS consumption.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sofia Pavanello
- Department of Cardiac Thoracic Vascular Sciences and Public Health, Università degli Studi di Padova, Padua, Italy; University Hospital of Padova, Padua, Italy
| | - Angelo Moretto
- Department of Cardiac Thoracic Vascular Sciences and Public Health, Università degli Studi di Padova, Padua, Italy; University Hospital of Padova, Padua, Italy.
| | - Carlo La Vecchia
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Gianfranco Alicandro
- Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy; Cystic Fibrosis Centre, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy
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3
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Borghoff SJ, Cohen SS, Jiang X, Lea IA, Klaren WD, Chappell GA, Britt JK, Rivera BN, Choski NY, Wikoff DS. Updated systematic assessment of human, animal and mechanistic evidence demonstrates lack of human carcinogenicity with consumption of aspartame. Food Chem Toxicol 2023; 172:113549. [PMID: 36493943 DOI: 10.1016/j.fct.2022.113549] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2022] [Revised: 11/23/2022] [Accepted: 12/02/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Aspartame has been studied extensively and evaluated for its safety in foods and beverages yet concerns for its potential carcinogenicity have persisted, driven primarily by animal studies conducted at the Ramazzini Institute (RI). To address this controversy, an updated systematic review of available human, animal, and mechanistic data was conducted leveraging critical assessment tools to consider the quality and reliability of data. The evidence base includes 12 animal studies and >40 epidemiological studies reviewed by the World Health Organization which collectively demonstrate a lack of carcinogenic effect. Assessment of >1360 mechanistic endpoints, including many guideline-based genotoxicity studies, demonstrate a lack of activity associated with endpoints grouped to key characteristics of carcinogens. Other non-specific mechanistic data (e.g., mixed findings of oxidative stress across study models, tissues, and species) do not provide evidence of a biologically plausible carcinogenic pathway associated with aspartame. Taken together, available evidence supports that aspartame consumption is not carcinogenic in humans and that the inconsistent findings of the RI studies may be explained by flaws in study design and conduct (despite additional analyses to address study limitations), as acknowledged by authoritative bodies.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Sarah S Cohen
- EpidStrategies, A Division of ToxStrategies, RTP, NC, USA
| | - Xiaohui Jiang
- EpidStrategies, A Division of ToxStrategies, RTP, NC, USA
| | - Isabel A Lea
- ToxStrategies, Inc., Research Triangle Park, NC, USA
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Wang Y, Luo X, Chen L, Mustapha AT, Yu X, Zhou C, Okonkwo CE. Natural and low-caloric rebaudioside A as a substitute for dietary sugars: A comprehensive review. Compr Rev Food Sci Food Saf 2023; 22:615-642. [PMID: 36524621 DOI: 10.1111/1541-4337.13084] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2022] [Revised: 10/12/2022] [Accepted: 11/15/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
For health and safety concerns, traditional high-calorie sweeteners and artificial sweeteners are gradually replaced in food industries by natural and low-calorie sweeteners. As a natural and high-quality sugar substitute, steviol glycosides (SvGls) are continually scrutinized regarding their safety and application. Recently, the cultivation of organic stevia has been increasing in many parts of Europe and Asia, and it is obvious that there is a vast market for sugar substitutes in the future. Rebaudioside A, the main component of SvGls, is gradually accepted by consumers due to its safe, zero calories, clear, and sweet taste with no significant undesirable characteristics. Hence, it can be used in various foods or dietary supplements as a sweetener. In addition, rebaudioside A has been demonstrated to have many physiological functions, such as antihypertension, anti-diabetes, and anticaries. But so far, there are few comprehensive reviews of rebaudioside A. In this review article, we discuss the physicochemical properties, metabolic process, safety, regulatory, health benefits, and biosynthetic pathway of rebaudioside A and summarize the modification methods and state-of-the-art production and purification techniques of rebaudioside A. Furthermore, the current problems hindering the future production and application of rebaudioside A are analyzed, and suggestions are provided.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang Wang
- School of Food and Biological Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, China
| | - Xiang Luo
- School of Food and Biological Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, China
| | - Li Chen
- Co-Innovation Center of Jiangsu Marine Bio-industry Technology, Jiangsu Ocean University, Lianyungang, China
| | | | - Xiaojie Yu
- School of Food and Biological Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, China
| | - Cunshan Zhou
- School of Food and Biological Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, China.,Co-Innovation Center of Jiangsu Marine Bio-industry Technology, Jiangsu Ocean University, Lianyungang, China
| | - Clinton Emeka Okonkwo
- Department of Food Science, College of Food and Agriculture, United Arab Emirates University (UAEU), Al Ain, United Arab Emirates.,Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering, College of Engineering, Landmark University, Omu-Aran, Kwara State, Nigeria
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Lea IA, Chappell GA, Wikoff DS. Overall lack of genotoxic activity among five common low- and no-calorie sweeteners: A contemporary review of the collective evidence. MUTATION RESEARCH-GENETIC TOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL MUTAGENESIS 2021; 868-869:503389. [PMID: 34454695 DOI: 10.1016/j.mrgentox.2021.503389] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2021] [Revised: 07/30/2021] [Accepted: 08/01/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
Low- and no-calorie sweeteners (LNCS) are food additives that have been widely consumed for many decades. Their safety has been well established by authoritative bodies globally and is re-evaluated periodically. The objective herein was to survey and summarize the genotoxicity potential of five commonly utilized LNCS: acesulfame potassium (Ace-K), aspartame, saccharin, steviol glycosides and sucralose. Data from peer-reviewed literature and the ToxCast/Tox21 database were evaluated and integrated with the most recent weight-of-evidence evaluations from authoritative sources. Emphasis was placed on assays most frequently considered for hazard identification and risk assessment: mutation, clastogenicity and/or aneugenicity, and indirect DNA damage, such as changes in DNA repair mechanisms or gene expression data. These five sweeteners have been collectively evaluated in hundreds of in vivo or in vitro studies that employ numerous testing models, many of which have been conducted according to specific testing guidelines. The weight-of-evidence demonstrates overall negative findings across assay types for each sweetener when considering the totality of study design, reliability and reporting quality, as well as the lack of carcinogenic responses (or lack of responses relevant to humans) in animal cancer bioassays as well as observational studies in humans. This conclusion is consistent with the opinions of authoritative sources that have consistently determined that these sweeteners lack mutagenic and genotoxic potential.
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Aspartame induces cancer stem cell enrichment through p21, NICD and GLI1 in human PANC-1 pancreas adenocarcinoma cells. Food Chem Toxicol 2021; 153:112264. [PMID: 33992720 DOI: 10.1016/j.fct.2021.112264] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2020] [Revised: 04/30/2021] [Accepted: 05/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
This study aimed to investigate the molecular effects of the common natural sugar glucose and artificial sweetener aspartame on cancer stem cell (CSC) population and cancer aggressiveness of PANC-1 human pancreas adenocarcinoma cells. According to our findings while aspartame exposure significantly increased the CSC population, high glucose had no effect on it. The epithelial-mesenchymal transition marker N-cadherin increased only in the aspartame group. The findings indicate that a high level of glucose exposure does not effect the invasion and migration of PANC-1 cells, while aspartame increases both of these aggressiveness criteria. The findings also suggest that a high concentration of glucose maintains CSC population through induction of nuclear Oct3/4 and differentiation to parental cells via increasing cytoplasmic c-myc. Aspartame exposure to PANC-1 cells activated AKT and deactivated GSK3β by increasing levels of ROS and cytoplasmic Ca+2, respectively, through T1R2/T1R3 stimulation. Then p-GSK3β(Ser9) boosted the CSC population by increasing pluripotency factors Oct3/4 and c-myc via NICD, GLI1 and p21. In the aspartame group, T1R1 silencing further increased the CSC population but decreased cell viability and suppressed the p21, NICD and GLI activation. The presence and amount of T1R subunits in the membrane fraction of PANC-1 cells are demonstrated for the first time in this study, as is the regulatory effect of T1R1's on CSC population. In conclusion, the present study demonstrated that long-term aspartame exposure increases CSC population and tumor cell aggressiveness through p21, NICD, GLI1. Moreover, while aspartame had no tumorigenic effect, it could potentially advance an existing tumor.
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Chappell GA, Heintz MM, Borghoff SJ, Doepker CL, Wikoff DS. Lack of potential carcinogenicity for steviol glycosides - Systematic evaluation and integration of mechanistic data into the totality of evidence. Food Chem Toxicol 2021; 150:112045. [PMID: 33587976 DOI: 10.1016/j.fct.2021.112045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2020] [Revised: 01/29/2021] [Accepted: 02/02/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Steviol glycosides are present in the leaves of the Stevia rebaudiana plant, have a sweet taste, and have been used as a sweetener for centuries. To build on previous authoritative safety assessments of steviol glycosides, a systematic assessment of mechanistic data related to key characteristics of carcinogens (KCCs) was conducted. Over 900 KCC-relevant endpoints from peer-reviewed literature and high-throughput screening data (ToxCast/Tox21) were identified across individual steviol glycosides and derivatives, metabolites, and whole leaf extracts. Most data (both in vivo and in vitro, including human cells), showed inactivity. Studies were weighted according to quality and relevance. Although data were available for eight of the ten KCC, genotoxicity, oxidative stress, inflammation, and cell proliferation/cell death represent the KCCs with the most data. The data for these KCC primarily show beneficial activity (anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anti-proliferative). Following integration across all data, and accounting for study quality and relevance, the totality of the evidence demonstrated an overall lack of genotoxic and carcinogenic activity for steviol glycosides. This is in agreement with previous regulatory decisions, and is consistent with the lack of tumor response in two-year rodent cancer bioassays. The findings support prior conclusions that steviol glycosides are unlikely to be carcinogenic in humans.
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Tan L, Li QY, Li YJ, Ma RR, He JY, Jiang ZF, Yang LL, Wang CZ, Luo L, Zhang QH, Yuan CS. Specific adsorption and determination of aspartame in soft drinks with a zein magnetic molecularly imprinted modified MGCE sensor. RSC Adv 2021; 11:13486-13496. [PMID: 35423884 PMCID: PMC8697574 DOI: 10.1039/d0ra10824c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/25/2020] [Accepted: 03/31/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Schematic representation of the synthesis procedure of ZDM-MIPs.
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Lack of potential carcinogenicity for acesulfame potassium - Systematic evaluation and integration of mechanistic data into the totality of the evidence. Food Chem Toxicol 2020; 141:111375. [PMID: 32360221 DOI: 10.1016/j.fct.2020.111375] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2019] [Revised: 04/13/2020] [Accepted: 04/17/2020] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
The safety of low- and no-calorie sweeteners remains a topic of general interest. Substantial evidence exists demonstrating a lack of carcinogenicity of the no-calorie sweetener acesulfame potassium (Ace K). The objective of this evaluation was to conduct a systematic assessment of available mechanistic data using a framework that quantitatively integrates proposed key characteristics of carcinogens (KCCs) into the totality of the evidence. Over 800 KCC-relevant endpoints from a variety of in vitro and in vivo assays were assessed for quality, relevance, and activity, and integrated to determine the overall strength of the evidence for plausibility that Ace K acts through the KCC. Overall, there was a lack of activity across the KCCs (overall integrated score <0 and no "strong" categorization for evidence of activity) in which data were identified. Together with the absence of treatment-related tumor effects in rodent bioassays, these results support the conclusion that Ace K is unlikely to induce a carcinogenic response. This assessment employed a weight of the evidence analysis that includes the consideration of factors such as reliability, strength of the model system, activity, and dose in a complex and heterogeneous dataset, and the ultimate integration of multiple data streams in the cancer hazard evaluation.
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