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The trend in the US and elsewhere around the globe is for children to enter puberty at earlier ages. Researchers are searching for an explanation, and the sweet and sweetened foods that preteens consume may hold at least a partial answer.

It turns out that, for boys, the artificial sweetener sucralose, found in Splenda and many foods and drinks, increases the risk of so-called precocious puberty. For girls, glycyrrhizin, found in licorice, herbal teas, and other drinks as well as sucralose and natural sugars all increase a preteen girl’s likelihood of earlier puberty.

Chinese researchers presented studies supporting these conclusions recently to the Endocrine Society’s 2025 annual meeting. Their research included data from 1,407 teens. The early puberty diagnosis was based on medical exams, hormone levels, and scans The teens' sweetener and sweets intake was quantitated via validated questionnaires and urine tests.

These findings, if confirmed, could lead to modifications of dietary recommendations for young children and preteens. Meanwhile, these highly suggestive data are excellent reasons for parents to limit their children’s intake of sugars, both artificial and natural.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/07/250714052231.htm#google_vignette

#sugar #puberty #sucralose #glycyrrhizin #precocious #boys #girls