Common sweeteners like aspartame and sucralose may trigger early puberty
By isabelle // 2025-07-17
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  • A new study links sugar and artificial sweeteners to early puberty in teens, with higher risks for those genetically predisposed.
  • Researchers found sucralose increases early puberty risk in boys, while girls face dangers from sucralose, glycyrrhizin, and added sugars.
  • Early puberty can cause emotional distress, stunted growth, and long-term metabolic and reproductive health issues.
  • Food industry lobbying has downplayed risks, despite WHO labeling aspartame as "possibly carcinogenic" in 2023.
  • Experts urge policy changes, genetic screening, and reduced sweetener intake to protect children’s health.
A groundbreaking study has uncovered a disturbing link between sugar, artificial sweeteners, and early puberty in adolescents, raising urgent concerns about the long-term health consequences of modern dietary habits. Researchers in Taiwan found that teens consuming aspartame, sucralose, glycyrrhizin (found in licorice), and added sugars faced a significantly higher risk of early puberty, especially if they are genetically predisposed. The study, presented at ENDO 2025 in San Francisco, analyzed 1,407 adolescents and revealed startling gender differences, with sucralose posing a heightened risk for boys. These findings expose yet another hidden danger lurking in everyday foods and beverages, further fueling the debate over corporate and regulatory negligence in food safety.

The study’s alarming findings

The research, led by Yang-Ching Chen, M.D., Ph.D., of Taipei Municipal Wanfang Hospital, examined data from the Taiwan Pubertal Longitudinal Study (TPLS), which began in 2018. Out of 1,407 participants, 481 were diagnosed with central precocious puberty, a condition where children develop sexually far earlier than normal. Puberty typically begins between ages 9 and 14 in boys and 8 and 13 in girls, but early onset can trigger emotional distress, stunted growth, and increased risks of metabolic and reproductive disorders later in life. Chen’s team discovered a direct correlation between sweetener consumption and early puberty risk, with higher intake leading to greater danger. "This suggests that what children eat and drink, especially products with sweeteners, may have a surprising and powerful impact on their development," Chen said in a press release. The study also found that teens with genetic predispositions were even more vulnerable, underscoring the need for personalized dietary guidelines.

Gender differences and hidden dangers

The research revealed dramatic contrasts in how sweeteners affect boys and girls. Sucralose—commonly found in diet sodas and sugar-free products—was strongly linked to early puberty in boys, while girls faced heightened risks from sucralose, glycyrrhizin, and added sugars. These gender-specific effects suggest that hormonal responses to sweeteners may vary, warranting further investigation. Chen’s prior work showed that artificial sweeteners like acesulfame potassium (AceK) can disrupt hormones and gut bacteria, accelerating puberty-related changes. Glycyrrhizin, for example, alters gut microbiota and suppresses genes that regulate puberty timing. Such findings highlight the insidious ways these additives interfere with natural development, often without parents realizing the dangers lurking in their children’s snacks and drinks.

Corporate deception and public health failures

The study’s revelations come amid growing scrutiny of the food industry’s role in promoting harmful additives. Aspartame, a common sweetener in diet products, was classified as "possibly carcinogenic" by the World Health Organization (WHO) in 2023. Yet, as The Washington Post exposed, industry lobbyists paid health professionals to downplay these risks on social media. The American Beverage Association’s "Safety of Aspartame" campaign exemplifies how corporations prioritize profits over children’s health. Meanwhile, the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) report identified artificial sweeteners as key contributors to the U.S. childhood chronic disease epidemic. With studies linking aspartame to cancer, cardiovascular disease, and neurological disorders, the mounting evidence demands immediate regulatory action, yet government agencies remain sluggish in addressing these threats. Chen emphasized that these findings should prompt urgent changes in public health policy, noting: "Screening for genetic risk and moderating sweetener intake could help prevent early puberty and its long-term health consequences." Parents, pediatricians, and policymakers must collaborate to eliminate these toxic additives from children’s diets and hold corporations accountable for deceptive marketing practices. The study, currently under review for publication in the Journal of Endocrinological Investigation, adds to a growing body of research exposing the dangers of processed foods. The Taiwan study serves as a wake-up call: the foods and beverages marketed as "safe" or "diet-friendly" may be sabotaging our children’s health, and early puberty is just one of many consequences of a broken food system that prioritizes profit over wellbeing. Sources for this article include: ChildrensHealthDefense.org ScienceDaily.com Newsweek.com
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