Artificial Sweeteners Alter Gut Microbiota and Glucose Metabolism
In September 2014, investigators reported that non-caloric artificial sweeteners alter gut flora and promote glucose intolerance. According to the National Household Nutritional Survey 2004, 15% of the population regularly were using artificial sweeteners. IRI Consumer Reports stated that 65% of American households bought at least one sucralose-containing product in 2008.
Initially, researchers found that feeding mice with a 10% solution of saccharin, sucralose, or aspartame in place of regular drinking water increased blood sugar levels after 11 weeks compared to a 10% glucose solution or water alone, with saccharin having the greatest effect. Next, the scientists showed that saccharin-fed mice treated for four weeks with antibiotics, which deplete the gut bacteria, reversed the glucose intolerance.
Germ-free mice that underwent fecal transplantation from mice that been fed saccharin- or glucose-containing water without antibiotics developed the same blood-sugar elevations seen in mice that had never ingested the sweeteners. The mice fed saccharin or received a fecal transplant from saccharin-fed mice had different gut bacteria compared to mice fed with sugar or no sweetener.
The investigators also evaluated 381 non-diabetic subjects for artificial sweetener intake, blood sugar metabolism, and gut microbiota. The researches determined that the subjects who consumed the greatest amount of artificial sweeteners had higher fasting glucose levels, poorer glucose tolerance, and altered gut microbe profiles compared to the subjects that did not consume artificial sweeteners.
Subsequently, the investigators evaluated seven subjects with no history of artificial sweetener intake. The subjects received the maximum acceptable daily saccharin intake for one week and blood sugar levels were monitored. Four of the subjects had poorer glycemic responses after the supplementation with saccharin compared to the beginning of the study. The subjects with poorer glycemic response had changes in gut flora while the subjects that did not have blood sugar changes did not have changes in gut microbes.
Finally, germ-free mice underwent fecal transplant from the human subjects that had poor glycemic response and those that had no metabolic changes with saccharin intake. The mice receiving fecal transplant from the subjects with poor glycemic response to saccharin had similar gut microbe profile and glucose intolerance as did transplants from saccharin-consuming mice, but transplant from the subjects that did not have metabolic effects from the saccharin did not induce these changes.
The researchers stated, “Collectively, our results link non-caloric artificial sweeteners consumption, dysbiosis, and metabolic abnormalities, thereby calling for a reassessment of massive non-caloric artificial sweeteners usage.”
Reference:
Suez J, et al. Nature. 2014 Sep 17.
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