In 2016, an “umbrella” systematic review compiled all known reviews examining the effects of artificially sweetened beverages on weight outcomes.[1] The systematic review sought to determine whether study findings were influenced by authors’ conflicts of interest, finding that reviews sponsored by the artificial sweetener industry were seventeen times more likely to have favorable results and two times more likely to have favorable conclusions than non-industry-sponsored reviews. Furthermore, reviews performed by authors with a food industry-related financial conflict of interest were seven times more likely to have favorable conclusions than reviews performed by authors without conflicts of interest.
Do conflicts of interest influence findings from research studies on artificial sweeteners?
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•Last Updated: May 16, 2025
A 2016 systematic review found that studies sponsored by the artificial sweetener industry were significantly more likely to report more favorable results and conclusions than non-industry-sponsored reviews. Additionally, reviews conducted by authors with food industry-related financial conflicts of interest were also more likely to yield favorable conclusions.