Bladder cancer is the eighth most common cause of cancer death in the United States, and mostly affects older individuals. More than 70 percent of cases are diagnosed in those 55 years of age or older. Approximately one in 42 people will develop this cancer during their lifetimes. Some early research suggested that some artificial sweeteners, commonly used in diet sodas, may be associated with bladder cancer.
Saccharin
Although diet sodas sold in the United States do not usually contain saccharin, this artificial sweetener does have a history of association with bladder cancer. In the early 1970s, studies reported higher rates of bladder cancer in rats who were fed high doses of saccharin. These findings led to the addition of warning labels to foods containing saccharin. However, later studies determined that saccharin does not have the same effects in humans as it does in rats. The U.S. National Toxicology Program no longer considers saccharin to be a possible carcinogen, and there is no longer a requirement for saccharin-containing products to carry a warning label. Similar findings from rat studies also led the FDA to ban another sweetener called cyclamate in 1969.
Aspartame
Aspartame is often used as a sweetener in diet sodas on the market as of 2011 and is usually listed under this name on ingredients lists. It is also the only sweetener in Diet Coke. No research in animals or humans has implicated aspartame in the development of bladder cancer, specifically. However, in the mid-1990s, a widely publicized trial reported high rates of brain tumors in rats fed aspartame for a long time. This study, though it was criticized by scientists for its poor design, led some to become wary of aspartame. Later observational studies in humans have not found any associations between aspartame consumption and cancer of any kind.
Acesulfame Potassium and Sucralose
Acesulfame potassium, or Acesulfame-K, is a newer artificial sweetener that is often combined with other sweeteners, such as aspartame, in diet beverages. Coca-Cola Zero contains both aspartame and acesulfame-K. This sweetener was approved by the FDA in 2002. Sucralose, sold under the brand name Splenda®, is also relatively new and was approved by the FDA in 1998. Because these sweeteners are newer, there were not, as of 2011, any studies evaluating the effects of their long-term consumption in humans. However, more than 100 studies were conducted on each of these sweeteners to assess their safety prior to their approval. None of these indicated that they might increase the risk of cancer or any other health problem.
Other Studies and Conclusions
Some research in humans has investigated the use of artificial sweeteners in general, rather than one specific sweetener. Most have not found any increased risk of bladder cancer, whereas one study found a slightly increased risk, similar to that posed by heavy coffee consumption. As of 2011, there is no substantial evidence to suggest that Diet Coke or any other food or beverage containing FDA-approved artificial sweeteners increase the risk of bladder cancer or any other type of cancer type.
References
- National Cancer Institute; Common Cancer Types
- National Cancer Institute; SEER Stat Fact Sheets: Bladder
- National Cancer Institute; Artificial Sweeteners and Cancer
- The Coca-Cola Company; Nutrition Connection: Diet Coke
- "Annals of Oncology"; Artificial Sweeteners---Do They Bear a Carcinogenic Risk?; M.R. Weihrauch & V. Diehl; 2004
- The Coca-Cola Company; Nutrition Connection: Coca-Cola Zero
