Popular Sweetener May Lead to Cognitive Deficits in Offspring: Study

A new study by researchers at Florida State University suggests one artificial sweetener may result in heritable complications when consumed.

The study, published in Scientific Reports, showed that male mice that consumed aspartame yielded offspring with memory and learning problems, indicating ingestion of the zero-calorie sweetener may alter their sperm’s genetic code.

How Aspartame Affects Male Mice

To test the heritable neurological effects, scientists first divided male adult mice into three groups: a control group given plain water, a group given water with an aspartame concentration of 0.015 percent (an equivalent of two 8-ounce cans of diet soda), and a group that ingested water with an aspartame concentration of 0.03 percent (four 8-ounce cans).

Both aspartame water drinks contained amounts that were a fraction of what the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) considers safe for people—making up just 7 percent to 15 percent of the agency’s maximum recommended intake.