Consumption of Artificial Sweetener Acesulfame Potassium Increases Preterm Risk and Uterine Contraction with Calcium Influx Increased via Myosin Light Chain Kinase–Myosin Light Chain 20 Related Signaling Pathway

• Published in: Molecular nutrition & food research Vol. 66; no. 20; pp. e2200298 - n/a
• Main Authors: Chiang, Yi‐Fen, Chen, Hsin‐Yuan, Lai, Yu‐Han, Ali, Mohamed, Chen, Yang‐Ching, Hsia, Shih‐Min
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Hoboken Wiley Subscription Services, Inc 01-10-2022
• Subjects: acesulfame potassium; artificial sweetener; Beverages; Calcium influx; Chains; Cytokines; In vivo methods and tests; Kinases; Myosin; Myosin-light-chain kinase; Potassium; preterm risk; Protein expression; Proteins; Signal transduction; Signaling; Soft drinks; Sweeteners; uterine contraction; Uterus
• ISSN: 1613-4125; 1613-4133
• DOI: 10.1002/mnfr.202200298

Scope
The consumption of artificial sweeteners has been rapidly increasing, with potentially hazardous effects on human reproduction. This study aims to explore the effect of Acesulfame Potassium (Ace K) and its potential mechanism to induce uterine contraction through in vitro, ex vivo, in vivo, and clinical observation studies.
Methods and results
Used ex vivo and in vitro studies to analyze its effect on uterine contraction and involved signaling pathway. Used the long‐term, high‐dose exposure to examine Ace K's affection for contractive‐related protein expression. By involving a cohort of 613 participants, to assess the dose‐responsiveness of Ace K consumption and calculate the odd ratio of Ace K consumption and the relationship with preterm risk. Animal studies show increasing uterine contraction, cytokine secretion, and altered contraction‐related protein expression. Human data show that higher consumption of Ace K may be related to early delivery.
Conclusion
Long‐term high‐dose exposure to Ace K can induce uterine hypercontraction, increase cytokine secretion, and alters contraction‐related protein expression. These findings suggest that women who suffer from uterine hypercontraction causes painfulness should pay more attention to the zero‐ or low‐calorie soft drinks or food products containing Ace K.
The consumption of Ace K can increase the risk of hyper‐uterine contraction by increasing calcium influx through JNK‐related signaling transduction. Long‐term high‐dose exposure to Ace K can increases the oxidative stress, inflammatory cytokine secretion, and alter contraction‐related protein expression. These findings suggest that women who suffer from the uterine hypercontraction causes painfulness should pay more attention to the zero‐ or low‐calorie soft drinks or food products containing Ace K.