아스파탐이 소아 청소년에게 미치는 영향 : 무작위 대조시험 고찰

Effects of Aspartame in Children and Adolescents: A Review of Randomized Controlled Trials

Background: As the importance of reducing sugar intake continues to grow, the use of alternative sweeteners such as aspartame has markedly increased. Aspartame, one of the most commonly used non-nutritive sweeteners, is widely incorporated into beverages and processed foods that are easily accessible in daily life, raising ongoing interest regarding its health effects and safety. This need is particularly pronounced in children and adolescents, who may be more vulnerable to the effects of dietary exposures. Therefore, this study aimed to review randomized controlled trials evaluating the effects of aspartame on pediatric populations and to analyze their findings. Methods: MEDLINE (PubMed) was used as the database to identify relevant studies published before November 27, 2025. Studies that lacked full-text availability or did not address the target topic were excluded, resulting in a final selection of 12 studies. Results: The effects of aspartame in children and adolescents were evaluated across metabolic, behavioral, learning-related, neurological, physical activity–related, and cognitive developmental domains. Aspartame did not produce significant differences compared with control groups in metabolic, behavioral, learning-related, physical activity–related, or cognitive developmental measures. However, it was associated with increased plasma phenylalanine levels, and findings on neurological outcomes were heterogeneous across studies. These results suggest that caution may be warranted in metabolically or neurologically vulnerable pediatric subgroups. Conclusion: To establish long-term safety and consistent conclusions regarding the use of aspartame and other alternative sweeteners in children and adolescents, high-quality studies that reflect current dietary environments are needed.