Obese consume artificial sweeteners to cut down calorie intake that enables them to lose weight. However, the weight loss with this methods has its own negative side effect. According to a new study, artificial sweeteners may cause type 2 diabetes.
Our body do not digest artificial sweeteners and they are excreted out of the body which helps in cut down the calorie intake. However, researchers have found that some bacteria present in the gut can break down or disintegrate artificial sweeteners which enhance the insulin intolerance in the body resulting in the increased risk of type 2 diabetes.
“Our study shows that individuals with obesity who consume artificial sweeteners, particularly aspartame, may have worse glucose management than those who don’t take sugar substitutes,” said Professor Jennifer Kuk from York University in Canada. He further added that his team didn’t find any such negative effects in those who consume saccharin or natural sugars.
Artificial sugars like aspartame or saccharin are commonly used in foods and diet drinks to cut down calories present in the food. In addition, it also prevents decay of tooth, say experts.
The study was based on the analysis of data of 2,856 US adults from the Third National Health and Nutrition Survey (NHANES III). Study authors asked people to check their diet over a period of 24 hours and divided them into two groups — the first group that consumed high amount of artificial sweeteners like aspartame and saccharin, and the second group that consumed natural sugars like sugar and fructose.
Further analysis of data revealed that artificial sweeteners especially aspartame increase glucose intolerance in the body which enhances the risk of diabetes.
The study is still in its preliminary stages and further study at a larger scale is required to confirm the initial findings.
Previously, a study has found that saccharin consumption in mice does increase glucose intolerance in the body.