Common dietary sweeteners, including sugar, sucralose, and glycyrrhizin, are associated with a heightened risk of premature puberty in children. This finding was reported by researchers from Taipei Medical University in Taiwan during their presentation at the Endocrine Society conference ENDO 2025 held in San Francisco.
The scientists analyzed data from 1,400 adolescents, 481 of whom had been diagnosed with precocious puberty. The researchers indicated that excessive consumption of sugar and artificial sweeteners might lead to growth complications. Children who consume high amounts of these substances may experience significant initial growth spurts over a short duration, but their growth ceases earlier than that of their peers, ultimately resulting in shorter adult height compared to average. Furthermore, high intake of sugar and sweeteners is linked to an increased likelihood of developing cardiovascular diseases, certain cancers, and type 2 diabetes.
These sweeteners are frequently present in numerous products targeting children, such as diet beverages, yogurts, snack bars, chewing gum, and even some pediatric medications.
Previously, the same research team demonstrated that probiotics could potentially reduce the negative effects of sweeteners by maintaining a healthy balance of gut microflora. The authors hypothesize that the `gut-brain axis` connection might play a crucial role in regulating the onset of puberty.
