Are Artificial Sweeteners Responsible for Metabolic Diseases?

Artificial sweeteners increase the risk of metabolic diseases, a new study states.

The study, conducted on mice and humans found that artificial sweeteners might be responsible for developing glucose intolerance and increasing the risk of diseases such as type 2 diabetes.

"In our studies we found that artificial sweeteners may drive, or contribute to... an exaggerated elevation in blood glucose levels - the very same condition that we often aim to prevent by consuming them," said co-leader of the study, Eran Elinav of the Weizmann Institute of Science in Israel, reports Reuters.

For the study, the researchers examined the effects of three popular artificial sweeteners - saccharin, sucralose and aspartame. They gave mice water with various combinations of the artificial sweeteners and regular sugar.

The findings of the study revealed that the mice that consumed water mixed with glucose and a sweetener developed glucose intolerance.

The experiment was conducted on humans in which researchers recruited about 400 participants. They were given different combinations of sugar and artificial sweeteners to consume and the researchers found that those who had artificial sweeteners had considerable different gut bacteria. The blood sugar levels and the glucose intolerance levels also went up in the participants in the artificial sweetener group.

In their side experiment, researchers recruited seven people who did not use artificial sweeteners . They were given a controlled diet comprised of non-caloric artificial sweetener for a week. Four days later, the researchers found that the participants had increased blood sugar levels. Their gut bacteria was also altered and the alteration were similar to those seen in the mice models.

"These results indicate that non-caloric artificial sweeteners may exacerbate, rather than prevent, metabolic disorders such as glucose intolerance and diabetes," the researchers concluded.

The study, 'Artificial sweeteners induce glucose intolerance by altering the gut microbiota,' was published in the journal, Nature.