ENDO: Sweeteners, Genetic Predisposition Independently Linked to Early Puberty

TUESDAY, July 15, 2025 (HealthDay News) — Sweetener consumption and genetic predisposition are independently associated with the risk for central precocious puberty (CPP), according to a study presented at ENDO 2025, the annual meeting of the Endocrine Society, held from July 12 to 15 in San Francisco.

Yang-Ching Chen, M.D., Ph.D., from the Taipei Municipal Wan Fang Hospital in Taiwan, examined sweetener consumption, genetic predisposition, and CPP risk interactions in a population-based cohort of 1,407 children to inform prevention strategies. Validated questionnaires and urinary biomarkers were used to assess sweetener intake, and genetic predisposition was quantified using polygenic risk scores derived from 19 CPP-related single nucleotide polymorphisms.

Chen found that 481 participants were diagnosed with CPP. Significant associations were seen for aspartame, sucralose, glycyrrhizin, and added sugars with an increased risk for CPP, especially in genetically predisposed individuals. There was a dose-dependent relationship noted, with CPP risk amplified by higher intake of these sweeteners. In boys, sucralose showed a stronger association with CPP, while glycyrrhizin, sucralose, and added sugars were especially impactful in girls. There were no significant interaction effects noted between genetic predisposition and sweetener intake.

“The findings are directly relevant to families, pediatricians, and public health authorities,” Chen said in a statement. “They suggest that screening for genetic risk and moderating sweetener intake could help prevent early puberty and its long-term health consequences.”

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