Artificial sweeteners may raise blood sugar though gut bacteria
A study into mice and humans has shown consumption of artificial sweeteners to be linked with higher blood sugar levels as a result of changes in gut bacteria.
Previous studies have shown consumption of artificial sweeteners via ‘diet’ soft drinks to be linked with increased rates of type 2 diabetes, however, results of studies have been inconsistent and therefore no clear picture has emerged as to whether or not artificial sweeteners have a part to play in the development of diabetes.
Researchers from Israel have looked to establish whether a link may exist in a more direct fashion and one that involved feeding mice, and then humans, very large doses of artificial sweeteners.
To begin with, the researchers fed mice with three artificial sweeteners, aspartame, saccharin and sucralose and measured their blood glucose levels. Following treatment with antibiotics to normalise levels of gut bacteria, the blood sugar levels of the mice reverted back to normal.
The next test involved taking gut bacteria from mice following feeding with saccharin and transferring this gut bacteria to mice without gut bacteria. The researchers noted that these mice that received the gut bacteria developed high blood sugar levels.
These tests showed strong links between sweeteners and changes in gut …read more
Source:: News from Diabetes.co.uk