Daily Early-Life Exposures to Diet Soda and Aspartame Are Associated with Autism in Males: A Case-Control Study.

This study looked at whether mothers drinking diet soda during pregnancy or breastfeeding might increase autism risk in their children. Researchers found that mothers who had at least one diet soda daily were about three times more likely to have sons with autism, but this pattern wasn't seen in daughters. The study used mothers' memories of what they ate and drank, which may not always be accurate. More research is needed to confirm these findings.

This case-control study examined whether maternal consumption of diet soda or aspartame during pregnancy and breastfeeding increases autism risk in offspring. Researchers compared 235 children with autism spectrum disorder to 121 neurotypically developing controls using retrospective dietary recalls from mothers. Results showed that daily consumption of diet soda (≥1 serving) or equivalent aspartame (≥177 mg) during pregnancy/breastfeeding was associated with approximately tripled odds of autism in male offspring only. The strongest associations were found for non-regressive autism in males.

No statistically significant associations were observed in females. The study adds to emerging concerns about potential developmental risks from maternal artificial sweetener consumption during pregnancy.

Results suggest potential prenatal risk factor for autism in males, but findings need replication in larger prospective studies. Pregnant women may consider limiting artificial sweetener intake as a precautionary measure, though evidence remains preliminary and causation is not established.

Case-control design with retrospective dietary recalls may introduce recall bias and confounding. Relatively small sample size limits generalizability. Cannot establish causation, only association. Potential unmeasured confounders not controlled for in the analysis.

Since its introduction, aspartame-the leading sweetener in U.S. diet sodas (DS)-has been reported to cause neurological problems in some users. In prospective studies, the offspring of mothers who consumed diet sodas/beverages (DSB) daily during pregnancy experienced increased health problems. We hypothesized that gestational/early-life exposure to ≥1 DS/day (DS) or equivalent aspartame (ASP: ≥177 mg/day) increases autism risk. The case-control Autism Tooth Fairy Study obtained retrospective dietary recalls for DSB and aspartame consumption during pregnancy/breastfeeding from the mothers of 235 offspring with autism spectrum disorder (ASD: cases) and 121 neurotypically developing offspring (controls).

The exposure odds ratios (ORs) for DSand ASPwere computed for autism, ASD, and the non-regressive conditions of each. Among males, the DSodds were tripled for autism (OR = 3.1; 95% CI: 1.02, 9.7) and non-regressive autism (OR = 3.5; 95% CI: 1.1, 11.1); the ASPodds were even higher: OR = 3.4 (95% CI: 1.1, 10.4) and 3.7 (95% CI: 1.2, 11.8), respectively (< 0.05 for each). The ORs for non-regressive ASD in males were almost tripled but were not statistically significant: DSOR = 2.7 (95% CI: 0.9, 8.4); ASPOR = 2.9 (95% CI: 0.9, 8.8). No statistically significant associations were found in females.

Our findings contribute to the growing literature raising concerns about potential offspring harm from maternal DSB/aspartame intake in pregnancy.