SAN ANTONIO — Are you a diet soda drinker? We've all heard there could be a connection between aspartame and cancer, but now. there could be a disorder linked to pregnant women drinking the beverage. In tonight's Verify we look into a new study done right here in San Antonio. The study was conducted at UT Health San Antonio, and is already getting worldwide attention.
THE QUESTION
Is it true that diet soda with aspartame could be linked to autism in male offspring?
THE SOURCES
- Dr. Sharon Parten Fowler, an adjunct assistant professor of medicine at UT Health San Antonio
- Dr. Raymond F. Palmer, a professor in the Department of Family and Community Medicine also at UT Health San Antonio.
THE ANSWER
WHAT WE FOUND
"If a boy had autism in the study, that boy had tripled the chances that his mother was using as much aspartame as is in one diet cola or five packs of equal a day compared with boys who did not have autism or other problems," Dr. Fowler told us.
In a news release by UT Health San Antonio, Dr. Palmer stated, "These associations do not prove causality, but taken in concert with reports from earlier studies of increased prematurity and cardiometabolic health impacts among infants and children exposed daily to diet beverages and/or aspartame during pregnancy, our findings raise new questions about potential neurological impacts that need to be addressed."
So yes, it is true. Diet soda with aspartame could be linked to autism in male offspring.
Dr. Fowler also told us this is just one of many studies that have come out warning pregnant women about the problems associated with aspartame. She advises against drinking any beverage that contains it, altogether.