Scientists have discovered “sweet taste” receptors in the heart that respond to artificial sweeteners like aspartame. This could potentially explain the long-observed link between sweetened beverages and heart problems.
Taste Receptors Impact Heart Function
Traditionally associated with flavor perception, taste receptors have been found in various body parts, including the stomach, intestines, pancreas, and airways. The new study is the first to identify sweet taste receptors (STRs), called TAS1R2 and TAS1R3, on the surface of heart muscle cells.Aspartame Stimulates Heart Muscle Contraction
Researchers demonstrated that STRs are functional within the heart. Stimulation of the receptors in human and mouse heart cells with aspartame, a common artificial sweetener, led to a significant increase in heart muscle contraction and improved calcium handling, both of which are needed to form a heartbeat.Linked to Heart Failure
The study found that STRs are more abundant in the hearts of patients with heart failure, suggesting a potential link to the disease.
When STRs are activated by aspartame, they trigger changes in heart cells that control calcium and muscle contraction.
“During heart failure, the heart is changing its energetic landscape and prioritizing glucose uptake and glucose usage,” Yoder said. This is a faster way to generate energy for the body’s cells when oxygen is scarce. “So, it’s possible that during this energetic change, the heart might need to change its nutrient sensing abilities to accommodate this switch,” he added.
The study may shed light on why drinking too many artificially sweetened beverages is associated with irregular heartbeats.
Expert Opinions on Sweetener Intake
This research suggests a potential link between artificial sweetener consumption and increased risk of cardiovascular disease, including arrhythmias and heart failure, Dr. Raj Dasgupta, associate professor of clinical medicine at the University of California, Riverside School of Medicine, and associate program director of internal medicine residency at Huntington Health, an affiliate of Cedars Sinai, told The Epoch Times.“Although the exact mechanisms are unclear, and more research is needed,” Dasgupta said. “If you have heart issues, it may be wise to monitor your sweetener intake until more research provides clearer answers.”
George Kyriazis, assistant professor of biological chemistry and pharmacology at Ohio State University, provided a contrasting view in an emailed statement to The Epoch Times: “I want to emphasize that aspartame can only activate the human sweet taste receptor, not the mouse receptor—contrary to what this report claims (i.e., increases force production in both mouse and human muscle.).”
“If this isn’t a red flag, I don’t know what is,” Kyriazis added.
Stephanie Schiff, a registered dietitian at Huntington Hospital, a part of Northwell Health in New York, told The Epoch Times that to her knowledge, “there have never been any studies that correlate high sugar or high artificial sweetener intake with any benefits to heart health.”
What This Means for Sweetener Consumption
The knowledge of sugar and artificial sweetener’s effect on cardiac muscle contraction and the of the location of sweet receptors may one day be used in controlling heartbeat and treating heart failure, “but for now, the reduction in intake of these sweet products may need to be our focus,” Schiff said.Dasgupta noted the study findings make him question the current classification of artificial sweeteners. “For a while, many have considered artificial sweeteners as generally being safe, but previous studies have also demonstrated a link between artificial sweeteners and weight gain, high blood pressure, and metabolic syndrome,” he said.
“This study, like its predecessors, makes you think twice about how much we really know about their long-term effects—especially for people with heart conditions,” he added. “More research is needed, but this study raises some important questions.”
Copy
