Artificial sweeteners, which are widely used in food and beverages, are raising increasing questions about their impact on human health.
A study conducted on humans showed that it may alter the balance of bacteria in the gut and affect how the body processes glucose.
The study was conducted by researchers from the Ellenav Laboratory at the Weizmann Institute, with 120 participants who were found not to consume foods or beverages containing artificial sweeteners. The researchers divided the participants into six groups; four groups received one of four types of sweeteners—saccharin, sucralose, aspartame, or stevia—while the other two groups received no sweeteners.
After two weeks, the researchers found that the four sweeteners caused changes in the composition and function of the gut microbiome, the collection of microorganisms that live in the intestines and play an important role in bodily functions. The nature of these changes also varied from species to species and from person to person.
The results also showed that saccharin and sucralose significantly affected the body's ability to tolerate and metabolize glucose, changes that researchers said may be linked to metabolic diseases, such as type 2 diabetes and obesity.
The researchers stressed that the long-term health effects of these changes are still unclear, and that the study's findings do not mean that sugar is better than artificial sweeteners, emphasizing the need for longer studies to fully understand the impact of sweeteners on health.
Professor Tim Spector said on the "Zoe Science and Nutrition" podcast that saccharin and sucralose may, over time, increase the risk of developing diabetes, noting that all four sweeteners affected the gut microbiome and caused, to varying degrees, what is known as "microbial imbalance".
He explained that the body's response to sweeteners varies from person to person, adding that using several types of them in a single product makes avoiding them difficult.
Spector said that studies indicate that sweeteners are not inert substances as previously thought, but are absorbed by the body and can interact with it in unpredictable ways.
In contrast, the UK's National Health Service (NHS) asserts that approved sweeteners undergo rigorous safety assessments before being allowed to be used, and are a safe and acceptable alternative to sugar within permissible limits.
The agency notes that scientific evidence regarding the effects of sweeteners on health and weight is mixed. Some short-term studies have found that replacing sugary drinks with drinks containing calorie-free sweeteners may help reduce calorie intake and limit weight gain, while long-term studies have yielded conflicting results.
For its part, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine says that research on the potential health risks of sweeteners is ongoing, and that studies conducted on humans generally indicate their safety when used within acceptable daily limits.
As for sugar, the college explains that it is not inherently harmful, as the body needs glucose for energy. However, the problem lies in excessive consumption of added sugar, which is found in large quantities in processed foods (unlike the natural sugars found in fruits, for example). This can be linked to high blood sugar, insulin resistance, obesity, tooth decay, and an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
While the study points to short-term effects of some sweeteners on the microbiome and the body's response to glucose, determining their long-term health effects still requires further research.
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