Aspartame and Autism: Drinking diet soda amid pregnancy linked to diagnosis in male offspring, says study
Mothers who consume aspartame- or diet soda-containing foods and beverages while expecting or nursing their children may be more likely to have their boys diagnosed with autism.
Boys with autism had moms who were three times more likely to have consumed at least one diet Coke or an equivalent amount of aspartame daily during pregnancy or lactation, according to researchers at the University of Texas Health Science Center.
The study raises questions about the connection between maternal aspartame intake and the likelihood that children may have autism, even if it does not prove causation.
The study compared the aspartame consumption of moms of 121 children with usual neurological development to that of mothers of 235 children with autism spectrum disorder.
Compared to neurologically typical children, male kids with autism were more than three times more likely to have been exposed to aspartame-sweetened goods regularly during pregnancy or lactation.
Instead of applying to all boys with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), the study's findings were exclusive to boys with autistic disorder.
The severity and earlier development of the illness, as well as the mother's usage of these products, all raised the likelihood that a boy with autism would be exposed to aspartame-sweetened diet products on a daily basis.
Retrospective dietary data collection and a predominately male sample of autistic individuals were two of the study's drawbacks.
Researchers emphasized the need for larger prospective studies that focus on additional risk factors that may affect the development of autism and have an equal gender distribution.
The study suggests a possible association, but more research is required to ascertain the precise nature of the connection between maternal aspartame use and childhood autism.