A set of intriguing but
preliminary studies on mice and humans suggests that consumption of artificial
sweeteners may impair the body's ability to regulate blood sugar. The studies also suggest that this disruption
of blood sugar control is due to changes in intestinal bacteria caused by
artificial sweeteners. Artificial sweeteners have typically been recommended to
persons with diabetes and excess weight because, unlike sugar and other natural
sweeteners, they contain no calories or carbohydrates. However, if the results of these studies hold
true in future investigations, than artificial sweeteners may actually cause
metabolic changes that increase the risk for diabetes.
First, the researchers added
three artificial sweeteners, either sucralose (Splenda), aspartame (Equal), or
saccharin (Sweet n' Low), to the water of three groups of mice. Three other
control groups of mice were given normal water or water with added sucrose or
glucose. 11 weeks later, the mice consuming artificial sweeteners exhibited glucose
intolerance (a condition in which there are greater blood sugar increases and a
reduced capacity to lower blood sugar after a meal).
The researchers then tested
whether gut bacteria changes might be responsible for the metabolic changes of
the mice fed the artificial sweeteners.
When they gave the artificial sweetener fed mice antibiotics that eliminated
the bacteria living in their intestines, they found that the metabolic problems
went away. Researchers also found they could glucose intolerance in healthy
mice never exposed to artificial sweeteners by transplanting gut bacteria from the
mice who had been fed saccharine.
Researchers hypothesize that when gut bacteria come into contact with artificial
sweeteners, they produce substances that increase bodily inflammation and
glucose intolerance. Notably, the
changes researchers observed in the gut bacteria of the mice consuming
artificial sweeteners resembled the patterns of microbiota that are observed in
mice with obesity and diabetes. A
previous study found similar changes in the microbiota of rats given sucralose
(Splenda).
The researchers then
evaluated a group of nearly 400 people who were long-term users of artificial
sweeteners. The researchers found that
they were more likely to have glucose intolerance compared with people who
don't normally use such sweeteners. In a
small follow-up experiment, the researchers tested blood sugar levels of seven
people who don't normally consume artificial sweeteners. The researchers found
that four of these people had higher fasting blood sugar levels and greater
glucose intolerance after consuming the U.S Food and Drug Administration's
maximum recommended daily amount of saccharine (equivalent to 8.5 packets of
Sweet n' Low) for six days straight .
Previous studies on the
health effects of artificial sweeteners have yielded conflicting findings. Some
have found the sweeteners were associated with weight loss while others have
found the exact opposite, that people who drank diet soda actually weighed more
and had higher rates of excess weight and diabetes, but this may be due to the
fact that persons using artificial sweeteners are doing so because they are
overweight. A recent observational study
involving more than 300,000 people showed no association between consumption of
artificially sweetened drinks and the development of diabetes.
What to do: Certainly
much larger studies on humans need to be conducted before definitive
conclusions about the effect of artificial sweeteners on gut bacteria and
glucose intolerance can be made.
Meantime, a single 20-ounce regular soda has nearly 20 teaspoons of
sugar and there is ample evidence that consumption of sugary drinks is strongly
linked to excess weight which drives the development of diabetes. So, diet drinks are likely a better
alternative to regular sweet drinks if you must consume them. But, your best bet is to drop the sweet
tasting drink habit and go for water. For
added taste appeal, try flavoring water or seltzer with lemon, oranges, mint, a
splash of juice, cucumbers, or herbal tea.
Sources:
Suez J, Korem T, Zeevi D, et al. Artificial sweeteners induce glucose intolerance by altering
the gut microbiota. Nature. 2014;514;181-186. DOI: 10.1038/nature13793
Abou-Donia MB, El-Masry EM, Abdel-Rahman AA, et al.
Splenda alters gut microflora and increases intestinal p-glycoprotein
and cytochrome p-450 in male rats. Journal of Toxicology & Environmental
Health. 2008;71(21):1415-29. DOI: 10.1080/15287390802328630
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