30 Seconds SummaryAre artificial sweeteners bad for your gut bacteria?
- A 2014 study by Suez et al. suggested artificial sweeteners disrupt gut microbiomes and cause metabolic issues, but it faced scrutiny due to significant limitations, including reliance on mouse models and small, uncontrolled human experiments.
- Key findings from Suez et al. included observations of glucose intolerance and altered gut microbiota in human subjects consuming high amounts of saccharin, but these were contested due to lack of controls and possible misinterpretation of data regarding weight and sweetener usage correlations.
- Further research, including a diverse array of controlled studies on various artificial sweeteners like aspartame, sucralose, and stevia, shows no significant effects on blood sugar, insulin levels, or gut microbiota at approved consumption levels.
- Artificial sweeteners such as saccharin, aspartame, and sucralose are largely undigested and pass through the human body without being metabolized, casting doubt on their ability to harm gut health.
- Regulatory agencies and scientific reviews universally deem artificial sweeteners safe for human consumption, provided they are consumed within the acceptable daily intake (ADI) limits set by international health authorities.
- Aspartame and sucralose have a longstanding safety record and are preferred for taste over saccharin, while natural stevia does interact with gut bacteria but is still considered safe within ADI limits.
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Menno Henselmans
