Acesulfame k

Studies in people

• Benefit

  Appetite and calorie intake¹

  In people, acesulfame-K with aspartame led to eating fewer calories per meal than sugar or water.

• Concern

  Early delivery risk²

  In people, eating more Acesulfame K may be linked to giving birth early, but scientists do not yet know for sure.

Animal and lab studies only

• No harm found

  Cancer risk⁴

  In lab studies, acesulfame K showed no sign of causing cancer.

• Concern

  Sweetener and puberty timing⁵

  In animal studies, acesulfame K led to earlier puberty in rats.

• Concern

  Liver cancer immune evasion⁶

  In lab studies, acesulfame K helped liver cancer cells hide from the body's immune system.

• Concern

  Fatty liver disease⁷

  In animal studies, acesulfame-K made fatty liver disease worse by raising fat in the liver.

• Concern

  Heart artery plaque⁸

  In animal studies, acesulfame k worsened artery plaque in mice already eating a high-cholesterol diet.

• Concern

  DNA damage⁹

  In lab studies, acesulfame k bound to DNA, and 5 mg/mL killed 85% of HUVEC cells after 48 hours.

Study type not stated

• Open question

  Breast milk transfer³

  Acesulfame k gets into breast milk after a mom drinks diet soda, but we don't know if that matters for the baby.

The signal at the top counts the findings in people and in animal and lab studies. A concern in studies of people outranks animal and lab studies, and “No concerns” needs at least two findings in people. Findings whose study type is not stated are shown but not counted. This page is a reference, not medical advice. It describes what regulators and published research say. Talk to a doctor or dietitian about your own diet.