The Canadian Cancer Society is recommending that people stay within existing daily limits of aspartame consumption and is encouraging more studies on the artificial sweetener after the World Health Organization deemed it 含羞草研究社減ossibly carcinogenic.含羞草研究社�

The classification 含羞草研究社渕eans that there含羞草研究社檚 limited evidence suggesting that it may cause cancer in humans and that additional research is needed,含羞草研究社� said Elizabeth Holmes, director of health policy at the Canadian Cancer Society, in an interview on Friday.

Holmes said the society welcomes research proposals on aspartame and will consider funding them.

Two WHO-affiliated agencies conducted two independent reviews to assess health risks associated with consumption of aspartame, which is commonly found in diet beverages, gum and sugar-free sweet treats such as syrup or gelatin dessert.

In reviewing available studies in both humans and animals, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) and the Food and Agriculture Organization Joint Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA) found limited evidence that aspartame could be associated with a type of liver cancer.But the findings could not rule out the possibility that other variables might account for the link.

Better studies, including randomized controlled trials, are needed to determine more definitively whether or not aspartame causes cancer, the study summary said.

There was 含羞草研究社渘o convincing evidence含羞草研究社� to suggest current recommendations on safely eating or drinking aspartame should be changed, it said.

Health Canada and the WHO both recommend a daily limit of 40 mg of aspartame per kilogram of body weight.

A WHO news release breaks it down: since a can of diet soda contains about 200 含羞草研究社� 300 mg of aspartame, an adult who weighs 70 kg would need to consume more than nine to 14 cans per day to exceed that limit.

David Ma, a professor of nutritional sciences at the University of Guelph, said the daily aspartame consumption of most Canadians likely falls within that limit.

含羞草研究社淯nfortunately, there are probably a few individuals drinking (above) that level. So those would be the ones that should be most concerned about their intake,含羞草研究社� Ma said.

In an emailed statement, Health Canada said it will review the research and 含羞草研究社渄etermine whether action is needed for aspartame in Canada based on the scientific data in the full reports.含羞草研究社�

The WHO has four classification levels for items assessed for their potential to cause cancer: carcinogenic to humans, probably carcinogenic to humans, possibly carcinogenic to humans, and not classifiable as to its carcinogenicity to humans.

Those levels are based on how strong the evidence is that something, including food, drink, chemicals and environmental hazards, is linked with cancer. The classification levels aren含羞草研究社檛 a statement about the 含羞草研究社渄egree of risk含羞草研究社� of developing cancer. The risk often varies with the amount consumed or levels of exposure. The type of cancer the food or drink is linked to also varies.

Tobacco, alcohol and processed meat are among more than 120 items currently classified as carcinogenic on the WHO含羞草研究社檚 website. There are more than 90 items listed as 含羞草研究社減robable含羞草研究社� carcinogens, including red meat.

When it comes to 含羞草研究社減ossible含羞草研究社� carcinogens such as aspartame, more than 320 items are listed. They include many chemicals, such as chloroform and lead.

It含羞草研究社檚 important to think of substances listed as carcinogenic, probably carcinogenic or possibly carcinogenic as 含羞草研究社渉azards含羞草研究社� rather than 含羞草研究社渞isks,含羞草研究社� Ma said.

For example, driving a car is inherently a hazard, he said. But the risk of injury is lowered by actions that we take.

含羞草研究社淲e accept that because overall, on a daily basis, millions and millions of people drive and the risk is relatively low because we put on our seat belt, we follow the rules of the road, we do not drive dangerously at high speeds,含羞草研究社� Ma said.

Similarly, aspartame is a 含羞草研究社渉azard含羞草研究社� but 含羞草研究社渢he level of risk is low含羞草研究社� if we don含羞草研究社檛 consume too much, he said.

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