Assessment of the effect of artificial sweeteners on glucose metabolism and gut microbiota
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Date
2019-12-20
Authors
Ahmad, Samar
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Abstract
Non-nutritive sweeteners (NNSs) have been popular since their introduction to the market. Currently, the NNSs approved as “table-top sweeteners” by Health Canada include acesulfame potassium, aspartame, saccharine, neotame, steviol glycosides, advantame and sucralose. The NNSs under review here are sucralose and aspartame. Recent research has focused on illuminating the negative health effects of NNSs. For example, consumption of the NNS saccharin reportedly induces glucose intolerance by altering the microbial composition of the gut (referred to as “gut microbiota dysbiosis”) in mouse models. The gut microbiota may have the ability to metabolize NNSs into short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), and this process has a wide range of consequences, including the potential to shift the normal bacterial balance and potentially lead to alterations in glucose metabolism. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the effect of pure form of sucralose and aspartame consumption on the gut microbiota community and to determine whether changes in glucose metabolism will be associated with gut microbiota dysbiosis induced through daily sucralose and/or aspartame consumption. Seventeen participants (young, healthy, non-pregnant, and non-diabetic) between 18 and 45 years old, with a BMI of 20-25 and a fasting blood glucose (FBG) ˂ 5.7 mmol/L, took part in this double-blind crossover study. They were randomly assigned to receive a beverage containing either aspartame (0.425 g) or sucralose (0.136 g) once a day during 2 week-long intervention periods separated by a minimum of a 4-week washout period.
Faecal and blood samples were collected at baseline and at the end of each phase, faecal samples were analysed for SCFA levels and microbiome composition and blood samples were analysed for glucose, insulin, incretin, and leptin levels, respectively. Seventeen participants (10 females and 7 males; age 24 ± 6.5 y; BMI 22.9±2 kg/m2) participated in the study. There were no significant differences observed between the aspartame and sucralose periods or baseline fasting glucose, insulin, active GLP-1 and leptin concentrations. The total area under the curve (AUC) values of glucose, insulin, active GLP-1 and leptin were similar for the aspartame or sucralose treatment compared to baseline in healthy participants. There were no significant differences in total AUC for glucose (p=0.54), insulin (p=0.38), active GLP-1 (p=0.67) or leptin (p=0.80) between sucralose and baseline in healthy participants. There were no significant differences in total AUC for glucose (p=0.65), insulin (p=0.16), active GLP-1 (p=0.63) and leptin (p=0.32) between aspartame and baseline in healthy participants. There was no significant change in HOMA-IR (p=0.35, p=0.46), HOMA-%B (p=0.16, p=0.60) and HOMA-%S (p=0.59, p=0.61) after sucralose or aspartame treatment, respectively, compared to baseline in healthy participants. The results of this research need further confirmation and assessment in obese and diseased populations.
This research will provide insights into the health consequences of NNS use and could potentially change the recommended ADI values for NNSs.
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Keywords
Non-nutritive sweeteners, Low-calorie sweeteners, Aspartame, Sucralose, Glucose metabolism