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Tag: sugar substitutes

Published on Leave a comment on Diabetes and Artificial Sweeteners

For years I heard health care providers recommend to persons worried about or with type 2 diabetes to only consume water, unsweetened coffee or tea, or zero calorie artificially sweetened beverages, including soda. Well, it turns out that artificial sweeteners have all sorts of harmful health effects, with different sweeteners (e.g., erythritol) having different effects.

Another recent study found that the consumption of diet drinks and saccharin, a very popular sugar substitute, are associated with an increased risk of type 2 diabetes. In other words, the sweeteners are linked to the very problem people are trying to avoid.

A little confusingly, the researchers did not find a link to type 2 diabetes when looking specifically at overall artificial sweetener, sucralose, and aspartame intake. But they did with saccharin (the oldest artificial sweetener in use) and overall diet drink consumption.

This study questioned people 3 times over 20 years, with a final follow up at 30 years, so perhaps these results are due to different artificial sweeteners used in drinks over time, and even what they themselves purchased. For example, some people buy saccharin to add to coffee and tea at home.

From Medscape: Diet Drinks, Saccharin Tied to Increased Diabetes Risk

Consuming higher amounts of diet drinks and/or saccharin was associated with an elevated risk of developing diabetes, while total artificial sweetener intake, sucralose, and aspartame showed no significant association, according to an analysis of data from the Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults (CARDIA) study. ...continue reading "Diabetes and Artificial Sweeteners"

Published on Leave a comment on More Reasons To Avoid Artificial Sweeteners

The artificial sweetener erythritol is added to many foods. However, this sugar substitute (which is often blended with stevia) may cause health problems . A recent small study found that consuming typical "sugar-less" foods, such as erythritol sweetened drinks or erythritol sweetened muffins, more than doubled the risk of blood clotting in healthy volunteers.

After consuming the drinks, their bodies made platelets (a type of blood cell) more active, which can raise the risk of blood clots. This did not happen after consuming regular sugar (glucose).

The researchers suggest instead of artificial sweeteners, to use sugar, honey, or fruit, but in moderation.

From Medical Xpress: New study adds to increasing evidence that sugar substitute erythritol raises cardiovascular risk

New Cleveland Clinic research shows that consuming foods with erythritol, a popular artificial sweetener, increases the risk of cardiovascular events such as heart attack and stroke. The findings, from a new intervention study in healthy volunteers, show erythritol made platelets (a type of blood cell) more active, which can raise the risk of blood clots. Sugar (glucose) did not have this effect. ...continue reading "More Reasons To Avoid Artificial Sweeteners"

Published on Leave a comment on Sugar Substitutes Alter Gut Microbiome

All of us want to have a healthy gut microbiome (the microbial community of viruses, fungi, and bacteria). For health reasons many people try to lower their intake of sugars. However, ingesting artificial or non-nutritive sweeteners such as stevia, sucralose, aspartame, or saccharin may also have an effect on the body.

A recent study in both humans and mice found that these sugar substitutes cause gut microbiome changes and had an effect on a person's glycemic response (blood sugar levels). Saccharin and sucralose significantly impaired glucose tolerance in healthy adults - it impacted their glycemic response even at doses below FDA allowances (average daily intake or ADI).

The non-nutritive sweeteners also had an effect on the oral (mouth) microbiome. Each sweetener had a different and distinct effect on both oral and gut microbiomes. And the effects varied in each person, due to everyone having a different (unique) microbiome.

Earlier studies found negative health effects from sugar substitutes (e.g., higher incidence of diabetes, higher risk of cancer, gut microbiome changes). So be cautious until more is known. One of this study's researchers suggested drinking only water.

From Medical Xpress: Non-nutritive sweeteners affect human microbiomes and can alter glycemic responses

Since the late 1800s non-nutritive sweeteners have promised to deliver all the sweetness of sugar with none of the calories. They have long been believed to have no effect on the human body, but researchers publishing in the journal Cell on August 19 challenge this notion by finding that these sugar substitutes are not inert, and, in fact, some can alter human consumers' microbiomes in a way that can change their blood sugar levels. ...continue reading "Sugar Substitutes Alter Gut Microbiome"