Personalized microbiome-driven effects of non-nutritive sweeteners on human glucose tolerance
Suez J, Cohen Y, Valdés-Mas R, Mor U, Dori-Bachash M, Federici S, Zmora N, Leshem A, Heinemann M, Raquel Linevsky 2, Maya Zur 2, Brik R, Bukimer A, Eliyahu-Miller S, Metz A, Fischbein R, Sharov O, Malitsky S, Itkin M, Stettner N, Harmelin A, Shapiro H, Stein-Thoeringer C, Segal E, Elinav E (2022) Cell Sep 1;185(18):3307-3328.e19 doi: 10.1016/j.cell.2022.07.016
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Abstract:
Non-nutritive sweeteners (NNS) are commonly integrated into human diet and presumed to be inert; however, animal studies suggest that they may impact the microbiome and downstream glycemic responses.We causally assessed NNS impacts in humans and their microbiomes in a randomized-controlled trial encompassing 120 healthy adults, administered saccharin, sucralose, aspartame, and stevia sachets for 2 weeks in doses lower than the acceptable daily intake, compared with controls receiving sachet-contained vehicle glucose or no supplement.
As groups, each administered NNS distinctly altered stool and oral microbiome and plasma metabolome, whereas saccharin and sucralose significantly impaired glycemic responses.
Importantly, gnotobiotic mice conventionalized with microbiomes from multiple top and bottom responders of each of the four NNS-supplemented groups featured glycemic responses largely reflecting those noted in respective human donors, which were preempted by distinct microbial signals, as exemplified by sucralose.
Collectively, human NNS consumption may induce person-specific, microbiome-dependent glycemic alterations, necessitating future assessment of clinical implications.
FAB RESEARCH COMMENT:
These new findings confirm those from pioneering studies by the same group, published eight years ago, which first showed that gut microbial changes induced by artificial sweeteners caused metabolic changes linked with increased risks for Type 2 diabetes and obesity. See:For the related news article and FAB comment, please see:
And for more articles on this subject, see also the following lists, which are regularly updated:
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