Early puberty in children: Ditch that lollipop, study links sweeteners to hormonal changes in children

That candy your child eats everyday may be causing more harm than you know. A recent study links common sweeteners to early hormonal changes in children (Images: Canva)

Children today may be growing up faster than ever, and not just metaphorically. A recent Taiwanese study has drawn links between widely used sweeteners, such as aspartame, sucralose, and glycyrrhizin, and early puberty, especially in youngsters with specific genetic profiles. These substances appear to disrupt hormonal signals and even alter gut bacteria, with different effects observed in boys and girls.

Early puberty isn’t just about taller kids sooner, it can come with emotional turbulence and long-term health concerns, too. Presented at ENDO 2025 (the Endocrine Society’s annual meeting), the study tracked 1,407 children through the Taiwan Pubertal Longitudinal Study. Of these, 481 showed signs of early puberty.

The researchers analysed their sweetener intake, via food logs and urine samples, as well as their genes. Children who consumed more sweeteners were significantly more likely to enter puberty early, particularly if they carried certain genetic markers.

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Previous work from the same team showed that AceK, a commonly used sweetener, can trigger puberty-related hormones and raise stress-linked brain chemicals. Glycyrrhizin, found naturally in liquorice, was shown to alter gut bacteria and genes tied to puberty timing.

Gender differences were striking, too

While boys were more susceptible to sucralose, girls were affected by a broader range of sweeteners, including glycyrrhizin and added sugars. These findings suggest that ordinary dietary choices could play a bigger role in childhood development than we ever suspected.

What parents need to know

• Emotional health risk: Children entering puberty early often face mood swings, anxiety, and emotional stress before their time.

• Growth may slow: Early puberty often means growth plates close sooner, resulting in shorter adult height.

• Future health issues: Early puberty can increase long-term risk of obesity, type 2 diabetes, and reproductive health problems.

• Found in everything: Sweeteners aren’t just in desserts,. they’re in diet snacks, soft drinks, flavoured milk, and somwtimes even some kids’ toothpaste.

• Food shapes development: What children eat and drink can influence their Development in more ways than we realise.

• Guidelines may shift: Ongoing research could prompt updates to dietary advice or lead to early risk screening.

• Watch sweeteners: Read product labels carefully, limit intake wher  possible, and raise any concerns with your child’s doctor.

• Rethink sugar‑free: Just because something is sweetener‑free doesn’t necessarily make it harmless,  sometimes the sweetest things hide the tricks.