5.3. Artificial Sweeteners, Gut Microbiota, and Obesity

 The GI tract is inhabited by many microbial species,

 including bacteria, viruses, and fungi, which have

 been shown to affect the host’s growth,

 metabolic, and immunological status [125]. NNSs are metabolized by the gut microbiota and have significant effects on biological mechanisms.

A study in mice has shown that the use of acesulfame-k reduced the levels of Akkermansia muciniphilia, leading to glucose intolerance [75]. Also, the same study showed that the use of aspartame induced glucose intolerance by altering the abundance of gut microbiota [75]. Another study in mice showed that the administration of neotame reduced the abundance of Firmicutes and increased the abundance of Bacteroidetes [126]. In actuality, it has been shown that in children with obesity, the levels of Firmicutes are increased and those of Bacteroidetes are reduced [127]. There are three hypotheses on the pathophysiological mechanisms that are possibly associated with the use of NNSs and obesity development: 1. Uncoupling sweet taste with calories by using NNSs may negatively affect energy balance, leading to obesity. 2. Increased NNSs consumption leads to changes in the gut microbiota, to a more obesogenic one. 3. It is possible that NNSs act directly on gut microbiota, thus affecting host defense mechanisms and triggering inflammatory processes, leading to metabolic dysregulation [119,128].

Ref

Nutrients. 2024 Sep 19;16(18):3162. doi: 10.3390/nu16183162

Chronic Use of Artificial Sweeteners: Pros and Cons

Lydia Kossiva 1, Kostas Kakleas 2, Foteini Christodouli 1, Alexandra Soldatou 1, Spyridon Karanasios 1, Kyriaki Karavanaki 1,*

Editor: Xiaohua Pan