Causal association between artificial sweeteners and risk of 15 tumors: A 2-way 2-sample Mendelian randomization analysis

The aim of this study was to apply a 2-sample Mendelian randomization approach, uncovering the causal link between artificial sweetener (AS) intake in cereals, coffee and tea and cancer. For this purpose, the research team obtained and utilized comprehensive data from published genome-wide association studies and selected genetic variants associated with AS as instrumental variables. Through 5 analytical techniques such as inverse variance weighting, MR-Egger, weighted median, simple multiple, and weighted multiple. In this study, the potential risk associations between AS and 15 cancers were comprehensively evaluated, and sensitivity analyses were used to assess the robustness of the results. Statistical results showed that there were causal associations between AS and breast cancer, oral cancer, esophageal cancer, gastric cancer, colorectal cancer, prostate cancer, ovarian cancer, kidney cancer, and lung cancer (inverse variance weighting method: P < .05). AS was a protective factor for breast cancer, gastric cancer, colorectal cancer, prostate cancer, and kidney cancer, and reduced their incidence. AS is a risk factor for oral cancer, esophageal cancer, ovarian cancer, and lung cancer, which increases the probability of occurrence. Sensitivity analysis showed that there was no significant heterogeneity or pleiotropy, and the results were relatively stable. AS intake was associated with a reduced risk of breast, stomach, colorectal, prostate, and kidney cancers; AS intake was associated with an increased risk of oral, esophageal, ovarian, and lung cancers.