Sweet has always been a fundamental human taste, and while glucose and other kinds of sugar are our primary energy sources, they can also have detrimental effects on health, including weight gain, obesity, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and other metabolic diseases. Artificial sweeteners (AS), introduced as sugar substitutes, are a group of chemical compounds that attribute sweetness with almost zero calories and are considered safe for consumption by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Although they may help restrict the daily caloric intake of sugar to less than 10% of the daily caloric intake, there are still questions about the long-term safety of AS. A higher risk of hypertension, insulin resistance, high blood sugar, abdominal obesity, and dyslipidemia has been linked to AS. The effect of AS on the cardiovascular system is still unclear, and further research is required. This review examines the potential mechanism of how artificial sweeteners cause cardiovascular diseases.
Congenital heart disease (CHD) is the most common congenital anomaly in newborns. Current treatment for cyanotic CHD largely relies on surgical intervention, however significant morbidity and mortality for patients with CHD remain. Recent research to explore new avenues of treating CHD includes the utility of stem cells within the field. Stem cells have since been used to both model and potentially treat CHD. Most clinical applications to date have focused on hypoplastic left heart syndrome. Here, we discuss the current role of stem cells in CHD and discuss future applications within the field.
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