Non-nutritive sweeteners have long been touted as a healthier alternative to sugar, but recent research from the University of Adelaide has shed light on potential interactions between these sweeteners and sugar handling in the body.
A study conducted by researchers at the University of Adelaide examined the impact of sweeteners, such as Splenda, on the body’s ability to control blood glucose levels. Previous studies have linked high and habitual consumption of sweeteners to an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
Published in the journal Nutrients, the study aimed to investigate how non-nutritive sweeteners like sucralose (Splenda) and acesulfame-K may affect sugar handling in the body. Associate Professor Richard Young, Senior Research Fellow at the Adelaide Medical School, explained, “In this proof-of-concept study, we wanted to discover how non-nutritive sweeteners might alter sugar handling, specifically whether they interact with sweet sensing pathways in the gut that govern the rate of sugar uptake directly, or indirectly through effects on gut bacteria.”
The study involved administering sucralose and acesulfame-K to mice over a two-week period. Some of the mice had their gut bacteria cleared with antibiotics before receiving the sweeteners. The results showed that the mice that received the sweeteners absorbed sugar at a faster rate from their gut compared to those who didn’t, regardless of antibiotic treatment. This indicates that these sweeteners directly affect sugar uptake in the intestine, although the overall blood sugar responses did not change significantly over the two-week period.
Dr. Braden Rose, Early Career Postdoctoral Researcher at the Adelaide Medical School, commented on the findings, stating, “These findings go a long way to answering some of the fundamental questions we have around the effects of non-nutritive sweeteners and show that despite the misconception that they are metabolically inert, their habitual high intake can alter distinct mechanisms of sugar handling.”
The research team, part of the University’s Center for Research Excellence in Translating Nutritional Science to Good Health and Nutrition, plans to move forward with clinical testing to further explore the effects of non-nutritive sweeteners on sugar handling. The study was also supported by members of the Lifelong Health theme at the South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute.
For more information, the study titled “Host or the Hosted? Effects of Non-Nutritive Sweeteners on Intestinal and Microbial Mechanisms of Glycemic Control” can be found in the journal Nutrients.
This groundbreaking research highlights the importance of understanding the potential impact of non-nutritive sweeteners on sugar handling in the body, challenging the assumption that these sweeteners are metabolically inert. As further research is conducted, we may gain a better understanding of how sweeteners like Splenda and acesulfame-K interact with the body and influence overall health.
