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Manufacturers of sweeteners are ready to sweeten the results of research

Julia Korowski, XX2 CENTURY

We have already written that representatives of the sugar industry are funding research on the effects of sugar on health. It turns out that their competitors – manufacturers of sweeteners – are also not without sin. This is stated in the article by Mandrioli et al. Relationship between Research Outcomes and Risk of Bias, Study Sponsorship, and Author Financial Conflicts of Interest in Reviews of the Effects of Artificially Sweetened Beverages on Weight Outcomes: A Systematic Review of Reviews published in the journal PLOS ONE by scientists from the University of California at San Francisco (University of California, San Francisco), Schools Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and the University of Sydney.

The researchers analyzed scientific papers on the effect of drinks with artificial sweeteners on weight gain. In 31 articles published in 1978-2014, both positive and negative effects of their use were considered, in particular, the development of diabetes and hypertension. "The huge impact that manufacturers have on funded research is worrying," says one of the authors of the article, Professor Lisa Bero, in a press release of Artificial sweeteners hit sour note with sketchy science. "Not only the data, but also the conclusions of these studies emphasize the benefits of sweeteners and conceal the harm."

The scientists came to the conclusion that the conflict of interests generated distortions at all stages of the study. A third of the papers did not specify sources of funding, the authors of almost half of the articles (42%) did not disclose conflicts of interest. Studies sponsored by manufacturers of sweeteners were 17 times more likely to come to conclusions about the safety or benefits of sweeteners than studies funded from other sources. If the authors of the study had a conflict of interest, then the conclusions about the benefits or safety were favorable 7 times more often than in studies whose authors did not have such a conflict. Studies funded by manufacturers of beverages with added sugar have not recognized substitutes as healthy.

"Our analysis shows that the statements of sweetener manufacturers should be treated with a certain degree of skepticism, since many works, apparently at the request of sponsors, exaggerate positive results, even in cases where the study is conducted in compliance with standards," says Bero. "It is important to be critical of all research that is funded by manufacturers of any food or beverages, and not just the sugar industry," she concludes.

Portal "Eternal youth" http://vechnayamolodost.ru  27.09.2016