More data from the famous Women’s health initiative revealed no benefit in using artificial sweeteners as a replacement for sugar. There was no change in the incidence of diabetes in a cohort of post menopausal women recruited for the initiative between 1993 and 1998. Infact, in the sub group of obese women, artificial sweeteners led to an increased risk of diabetes.
Water came to the rescue. Statistically substituting 1 serving of artificial sweeteners with water was associated with a significant risk reduction of 5% (HR: 0.95; 95% CI: 0.91, 0.99), whereas substituting 1 serving of sugared beverages with water was associated with a risk reduction of 10% (HR: 0.90; 95% CI: 0.85, 0.95).