Aspartame consumption linked to delayed puberty and mitochondrial Dysfunction: Evidence from human and animal studies

Abstract

This study investigates the impact of aspartame consumption on pubertal timing in females. The research employs both human and rat models to explore underlying mechanisms. In the Taiwan Pubertal Longitudinal Study (2018-2022), 858 girls aged 6-12 were assessed for aspartame intake and puberty outcomes. Concurrently, female Sprague Dawley rats were exposed to low (30 mg/kg) or high (60 mg/kg) doses of aspartame from prenatal to postnatal stages. Results demonstrate that aspartame disrupts the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis in rats, causing mitochondrial dysfunction and reduced ovarian mitochondrial biogenesis, leading to delayed puberty. Human data indicates higher aspartame consumption correlates with a decreased risk of precocious puberty (odds ratio = 0.63, 95% confidence interval = 0.42-0.96; p for trend = 0.03). These findings suggest long-term aspartame consumption may delay puberty, necessitating further research to inform dietary guidelines, especially for vulnerable populations such as prepubertal girls.

Keywords: Aspartame; Delayed puberty; Female offspring rat; Mitochondria dysfunction; Oxidative stress.