The WHO warns against using artificial sweeteners. In a new guideline released in May, the World Health Organization (WHO) advised against the use of artificial sweeteners for weight management after a systematic review and meta-analysis released by the WHO found no evidence of efficacy in long-term weight loss. Instead, the review identified a correlation between frequent consumption of non-sugar sweeteners and increased risk of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Additionally, research from North Carolina State University revealed that consumption of the popular artificial sweetener, sucralose-branded as Splenda-can contribute to leaky gut syndrome, an intestinal disorder, and damage DNA, thereby increasing cancer risk. In addition to advising against use of artificial sweeteners, the WHO urged the reduction of refined sugar consumption by, for example, replacing ultra-sweet foods with more nutritional sugar sources such as fresh fruit.