Artificial sweetener consumption differentially affects the gut microbiota‐host metabolic interactions

Abstract

While there is general agreement on the safety and potential uses of artificial sweeteners, the literature is still lacking a consensus on their long‐term effects on gut microbiota and host‐microbe interactions. To this end, we examined the impact of chronic sweetener consumption on the gut microbiome in lean and diet‐induced obese rats. Male Sprague‐Dawley rats (n=40) were randomized into two dietary groups; chow (CH, 12% kcal fat) and high fat (HF, 60% kcal fat). Each dietary group was further divided into groups consuming water or artificially sweetened water (0.4g/100mL EQUAL®, aspartame) for 8wk (n=10/treatment). Animals consumed food and fluids ad libitum. CH and HF animals showed a difference in weight gain and body fat, with the HF rats becoming obese and glucose intolerant (OGTT). Analysis of insulin tolerance (ITT) demonstrated sweetener consumption to reduce insulin sensitivity in both CH and HF. Analysis of the gut microbiome showed marked differences between both diet and fluid treatment. Total Eubacteria was reduced by HF, but maintained with sweetener consumption. Reductions in Lactobacillus were observed in CH sweetener and both HF groups. Bacteroides was reduced in both HF groups but not CH sweetener compared to water controls. In conclusion, results show sweetener to alter host‐microbe interactions in both chow and diet‐induced obese animals.