May 21, 2012
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WVLT) -- A new study shows mothers-to-be may want to kick a diet soda habit. European researchers say using the artificial sweetener, aspartame, could increase the risk of premature birth.
The FDA says aspartame is a safe, artificial sweetener, even for women to use during pregnancy. A local nutritionist says it's just one piece of information, but you may want to think it over.
A little boy will make baby number two for Cindi Buchanan. "I haven't had any complications so far. I'm just hoping for an easy delivery," she said.
To help her pregnancy along, she's gotten serious about cleaning up her diet, including ditching drinking soda. "When I found out, I was pregnant, I knew that was what I had to do, so I just did it with no questions asked," said Buchanan.
A study of nearly 60,000 Danish women interviewed during pregnancy showed drinking diet sodas, sweetened with aspartame, could lead to premature birth. It suggests if you drink one artificially sweetened drink per day, your risk is 38 percent higher. That rate rises to 78 percent if you drink four or more. The findings were recently published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.
"There are a lot of risk factors for prematurity. Nutritional, poor nutritional health is one. Underweight is one," said Mary Ellen Sherry, RD, a neonatal nutritionist at UT Medical Center.
Sherry said while artificial sweeteners may not be as harmful as indicated, they don't add to the healthfulness of your diet. "If you are afraid of it, don't do it. That's one thing that's easy to give up, are diet drinks," she said.
Fort Sanders Regional Medical Center released this statement in response to Volunteer TV's questions: "Ft. Sanders follows the guidelines of the American Dietetic Association and nothing has come down about aspartame from them. We have Certified Dietitians on staff that work with patients to determine specific dietary needs for that individual."
"It's just one piece of information," said Sherry. She said what's most important is not what to avoid, but what pregnant women do need: a balanced diet, that includes enough protein, calcium and folic acid. Sherry said taking care of your body needs to begin before pregnancy if possible.
"I'm sure there's tons of mothers out there that could say, 'Oh I drank that all throughout my pregnancy and my baby's fine,'" said Buchanan. But for her own health, she says it's enough evidence to make a change.
"When it comes to things, like my health I'd rather be safe than sorry."
For more information on the study, you can click on the link below.
