Aspartame and Potassium Sorbate Together in Liver Cells
What it found
In lab tests on human liver cancer cells, aspartame and potassium sorbate together caused more cell death, oxidative stress and DNA damage than either additive alone.
The two additives acted together in a way that was greater than their separate effects.
What they found
Animal and lab studies
Cell growth slowed
Both aspartame and potassium sorbate slowed the growth of liver cells in a dose-dependent way. Aspartame was more potent, with an IC50 of 0.48 g/L at 24 hours, compared with 1.25 g/L for potassium sorbate.
More cell death together
When cells were exposed to both additives together, the apoptosis rate was higher than with either additive alone. After 48 hours, the joint group had an apoptosis rate of 29.73%, compared with 23.84% for aspartame alone and 22.92% for potassium sorbate alone.
Mitochondrial effects
The additives lowered mitochondrial membrane potential and increased cell membrane permeability, with the joint group showing a more obvious effect. Cytochrome c protein levels also rose more in the joint group.
Oxidative stress
Reactive oxygen species increased in cells exposed to either additive alone, and rose even more in the joint group. The authors describe this as a synergistic effect.
DNA damage
The additives increased phosphorylation of H2A histones, a marker of DNA damage, with the joint group generally showing higher levels than the separate groups. The low-dose group alone had no significant effect.
p53 and apoptosis proteins
Exposure to the additives increased p53 transcription and protein levels, increased Bax protein and decreased Bcl-2 protein. The joint group showed more marked changes than either additive alone.
What the authors conclude
“In summary, the present study revealed that AT and PS could induce apoptosis in HepG2 cells, and the joint group had a deeper effect.”
Also in their conclusions
- They conclude that aspartame and potassium sorbate together can induce apoptosis in HepG2 cells, with the joint group having a deeper effect.
- They state that excessive reactive oxygen species induced by the two additives together was a key initiating factor for the apoptosis, and that the mechanism may involve the mitochondrial pathway in which p53 plays an important role.
- They suggest that to further explore the specificity of the joint effect, different types of cells could be compared.
How it was done
Food additives are usually tested one at a time, but people eat many additives together in the same foods. The authors wanted to see whether aspartame and potassium sorbate, which are often consumed at the same time, have a combined effect on cells.
They grew human liver cancer cells (HepG2) in the lab and exposed them to aspartame, potassium sorbate, or both together for 12, 24 or 48 hours. They measured cell survival, apoptosis, mitochondrial membrane potential, reactive oxygen species, DNA damage and levels of proteins including p53, Bax, Bcl-2, cytochrome c and caspase-3.
What it can’t tell you
- These are lab tests on human liver cancer cells grown in a dish. They cannot show what happens in people who eat foods containing these additives.
- The study did not test normal liver cells or whole animals, so it cannot show whether the same effects would occur in a living body.
- The concentrations tested were within the acceptable daily intake, but the study cannot show how the additives behave when eaten in food.
Who paid
- Conflicts
- There are no conflicts of interest to declare.
- Authors work at
- Zhejiang Gongshang University, China
The paper
- Title
- Synergistic Effects of The Enhancements to Mitochondrial ROS, p53 Activation and Apoptosis Generated by Aspartame and Potassium Sorbate in HepG2 Cells
- Type
- Study
- Evidence
- Animals and lab studies
- Summarised from
- Full text
- Cite
- Qu D, Jiang M, Huang D, et al (2019). Synergistic Effects of The Enhancements to Mitochondrial ROS, p53 Activation and Apoptosis Generated by Aspartame and Potassium Sorbate in HepG2 Cells. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland). doi:10.3390/molecules24030457Free full textPubMed 30696035DOI
Summary written 26 Sep 2026. Check it against the paper before it changes what you eat. How we summarise papers · Report an error