What is the artificial sweetener acesulfame potassium, and is it harmful to health?

Many people try to lose weight using different methods. One of the most important goals people trying to lose weight set themselves is to reduce sugar. Artificial sweeteners are the most frequently used alternatives to sugar, but there is still no answer as to how the ever-increasing number and variety of artificial sweeteners affect the human body or which is better.

Many of us may not have heard its name; acesulfame potassiumis one of the most commonly used, and also controversial, artificial sweeteners. It may be listed on food labels in the following forms: 

• Acesulfame K 
• Acesulfame potassium 
• Ace-K
• E950 ( in Europe )

Although it is two hundred times sweeter than sugar, it has no caloric value. It works by stimulating taste receptors on the tongue. It therefore allows much more taste from many foods and drinks without consuming calories. Forms combined with other sweeteners, such as aspartame and sucralose, are also used in foods to mask their bitter tastes. An interesting feature of acesulfame potassium is that it is not altered or stored in the body; all of it passes into the urine and is excreted.

What contains acesulfame?

It is found in most foods and drinks. Unlike other sweeteners such as aspartame, it is not altered when heated, so it is also widely used in baked or cooked foods. Examples include soda, fruit juice, alcoholic drinks, dairy products, ice cream, desserts, jams, marmalades, toothpastes, mouthwashes, chewing gum, pickles, breakfast cereals, salad dressings and spices.

Controversies concerning acesulfame potassium

The effects of artificial sweeteners on the body remain controversial, and they are claimed to cause certain harms. They are said to interfere with metabolism, appetite, weight control and blood sugar. The greatest concerns are whether they affect cancer development and whether they affect a baby's development in the womb.

Despite these concerns, it has been accepted as safe for human use in Europe and America. The FDA has limited daily intake per kilogram to 15 mg in America and 9 mg in Europe. In America, this figure is equivalent to a person weighing approximately 68 kg drinking 20 cans of diet cola daily. Although its use is accepted in some countries, scientists say that the studies conducted do not meet scientific standards.

Effects of acesulfame on blood sugar and insulin

Research has found that artificial sweeteners have minimal effects on blood sugar, and their use in people with diabetes has been described as safe. However, although the mechanism of action has not been fully established, several studies have found a link between consuming diet drinks and developing type 2 diabetes, obesity and metabolic syndrome. This has made the effects of artificial sweeteners on blood sugar and insulin controversial.

Some laboratory experiments have observed that acesulfame potassium increases sugar absorption from the intestine. In an animal experiment, when mice were directly given high doses of acesulfame potassium, insulin rose % 114-210 above its basal level. Human experiments found no effect on blood insulin levels, but the long-term effect is unknown.

Does acesulfame potassium increase cancer risk?

One of the biggest claims about acesulfame potassium is that it increases the risk of cancer. Because it is now readily used in most drinks, more people are exposed to it. Some scientists question the validity of the studies conducted on acesulfame potassium. The FDA and European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) say that acesulfame potassium is safe and maintain that there is insufficient evidence that it affects cancer development.

Acesulfame potassium has been examined in many studies and has shown no genotoxic activity, meaning activity that causes mutations in DNA; repeated studies have also found no carcinogenic effect. In the largest animal experiment on this subject, conducted by America's National Toxicology Program, mice were given acesulfame potassium for more than 40 weeks at %3 of their diet (an amount equivalent to humans consuming approximately 1000 cans of drink daily), but this study also found no evidence that it increased cancer risk.

Possible side effects of acesulfame

It is thought that high acesulfame intake by pregnant women could cause premature birth. One study found that acesulfame potassium passes into the placenta and breast milk, and that if a mother uses it during pregnancy or breastfeeding, the baby may be more inclined toward sugary foods later in life. A long-term study in mice observed that acesulfame potassium caused neurological impairments and reductions in brain function.

Should we avoid consuming acesulfame potassium?

Acesulfame potassium may be useful for people who consume a lot of sugar, but it should be remembered that the effects of using this seemingly safe artificial sweetener for many years are unknown. Although long-term animal experiments have observed that high doses can be tolerated, scientists say the studies are not sufficiently convincing. Since no aspect requiring complete avoidance has been demonstrated, whether to consume it remains a personal decision.