Artificial Sweeteners and AFib - Recent American Heart Association Research

Medical Q&A [Moderated]
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Docs,

I’ve listened and read all the BBM content on artificial sweeteners. Based on this information, I indulge in these non-caloric beverages on a daily basis (really helps keep my caloric intake down) without fear. Seeing some recent research, which I don’t have access to - and probably wouldn’t understand it if I did, that links artificial sweeteners and atrial fibrillation.

“Adults who reported drinking two liters (about 67 ounces) or more of sugar- or artificially sweetened drinks per week had a higher risk of an irregular heart rhythm known as atrial fibrillation compared with adults who drank fewer such beverages, according to new research published today in Circulation: Arrhythmia and Electrophysiology, a peer-reviewed journal of the American Heart Association.”

My dad has Afib, he was diagnosed with it in his 60’s, so I’ve always been “on the lookout” for things that may increase my chances of developing it on top my hereditary disposition. Does this change any of your thinking/recommendations on the artificial sweeteners or are the causes here more “nuanced”? Should I throttle back my consumption?

Full article here:

https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/abs/10.1161/CIRCEP.124.012761

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This does not really change my opinion on non nutritive sweeteners (NNS), no. I think dietary patterns of most people consuming a lot of NNS beverages are poor, in general. I also think the causal relationship between NNS and A-Fib lacks an established mechanism. I feel most strongly about this when it comes to replacing sugar sweetened beverages with NNS (10/10, would recommend), but less strongly comparing NNS to water (mostly neutral).

1 Like
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Thanks for the response, Jordan!