Artificial sweetener claim rejected by pro-industry body

By Noli Dinkovski

- Last updated on GMT

Related tags Low calorie sweeteners Gut flora

Low calorie sweeteners: ‘no evidence’ they affect gut function, ISA claims
Low calorie sweeteners: ‘no evidence’ they affect gut function, ISA claims
A claim that artificial sweeteners have a negative effect on the gut biome have been rejected by a pro-industry body.

Professor Tim Spector’s comments, made at the Food Vision event in London last month, drew criticism from the International Sweeteners Association (ISA).

Scientific studies had provided no evidence that low calorie sweeteners could affect human gut microflora, or have any impact on human gut function, the ISA said.

Helpful in weight loss

In contrast, a 2016 systematic review and meta-analysis by Rogers et al​ concluded that the evidence base was consistent in confirming that the use of low calorie sweeteners could help reduce energy intake, and thus could be helpful in weight loss, the organisation added.

Spector, who is professor of genetic epidemiology at King’s College London, told Food Vision that “emulsifiers, preservatives and artificial sweeteners all have very negative effects on the gut microbiome”​.

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1 comment

Im not sure about the ISA's ability to search the literature

Posted by Bob,

Scientific evidence low calorie sweeteners could affect human gut microbiota, no?
"Artificial sweeteners induce glucose intolerance by altering the gutmicrobiota" http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v514/n7521/pdf/nature13793.pdf

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