The use of artificial sweeteners during cancer treatment has drawn criticism after a recent study found that these sugar replacements may reduce immunotherapy’s efficacy in certain individuals.
Researchers discovered that a common artificial sweetener interfered with the effectiveness of immunotherapy in mouse models, according to a study published in Cancer Discovery. The sweetener, which was not included in the synopsis, seemed to change how the immune system reacts, which would reduce the effectiveness of treatments.
In comparison to mice that did not consume the artificial sweetener, lead researcher Professor Abby Overacre and her colleagues found that the mice’s response to cancer-fighting immunotherapy was weak.
A supplement of arginine might provide an easy fix.
Thankfully, the study also offers arginine, a naturally occurring amino acid, as a possible remedy.
