New study suggests artificial sweeteners induce glucose intolerance
Results are not supported by health authorities and other studies, says Calorie Control Council
A new study suggesting that artificial sweeteners induce glucose intolerance by altering the gut microbiota is at odds with leading health organisations and many other peer-reviewed published studies, says the Calorie Control Council.
In contrast to the assertions made by the researchers of this study, published in the journal Nature, which claim that low-calorie sweeteners increase the risk of diabetes and obesity, the overall evidence from studies on low-calorie sweeteners, including numerous human studies, shows that they do not have adverse effects on blood glucose control nor lead to an increased risk of obesity.
'The study suffers from small sample sizes, unrealistic sweetener applications and doses, and a dependence largely on rodent research. Findings should be interpreted with caution,' said Haley Curtis Stevens, President of the Calorie Control Council.
Health organisations, including the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (AND), the American Diabetes Association (ADA) and the American Heart Association (AHA), as well as numerous scientific studies, agree that low-calorie sweeteners can be used as a safe tool to help manage calorie intake, which, in turn can be helpful for both weight and diabetes management.
Investigators in more than 40 studies in people have concluded that the use of low-calorie sweeteners does not lead to either an increased risk of obesity or diabetes, says the Calorie Control Council.