Artificial non-nutritive sweeteners consumption is able to modulate glycemic control and body composition in healthy or diet-induced obese mice

Abstract

Non-nutritive sweeteners (NNS) are among the most widely used food additives worldwide. Their substitution to sugar is presented as one of the solutions to prevent cardiometabolic disease, especially as they have a sweet taste but very low-energy content. However, several recent studies have questioned their physiological inactivity, which was the basis for their approval by health authorities. The main objective of this study was to evaluate the acute and chronic effects of artificial NNS consumption on glycemic control in lean and diet-induced mice models. Consequently, we evaluated the acute effects of NNS acesulfame-potassium (aceK) and sucralose on glucose tolerance, insulin sensitivity and insulin secretion measured in blood and at the beta-cells pancreatic level of mice. In another set of mice, we compared the effects of aceK or sucralose supplementations to sugar consumption during a 12 week long high-fat (HF) diet. At the end of the 12 weeks of supplementation, we evaluated the influence of these different conditions on glucose metabolism and body fat distribution. First, we reported, in our mice models, that oral glucose tolerance tests (OGTTs) after acute sucralose gavage were improved significantly compared to AceK gavage and control situation (vehicle). These acute effects on blood glucose levels after sucralose ingestion were not directly explained by a significant increase neither in beta cells insulin secretion nor in insulin sensitivity. Interestingly, we further demonstrated that both NNS chronic consumption were able to attenuate significantly the deleterious effect of HF diet on glycemic control (glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity), independently of caloric intake. Moreover, we reported in HF mice supplemented with NNS a lower accumulation of adipose tissue in the inguinal and subcutaneous compartments which was associated with a reduction in body mass in these groups. Surprisingly, our results demonstrate that even an acute consumption of widely used NNS sucralose and AceK is able to alter glucose metabolism. When repeated over time, the consumption of these NNS also seems to be able to reduce deleterious effects of HF diet on glycemic control but also on body composition. These results may contribute to a better understanding of the effects of NNS on metabolic health, but further studies are needed to decipher underlying mechanisms.