Abstract
The ingestion of non-caloric sweeteners (NCS) from food and/or drink was intended to reduce caloric intake without compromising palatability. However, the inconclusive relation between NCS and body weight may partially relate to their form of ingestion (solid or liquid). Thus, two paralleled experiments (aspartame and sucralose) were conducted. In each, Sprague Dawley rats (7-week-old male) were randomly divided into four groups. In Expt 1, aspartame (0·05 %) was added to the diet (AD) or drinking water (AW) or both diet and water (ADW), and a control group (C) was given a non-sweetened diet with plain water. In Expt 2, sucralose (0·016 %) was similarly provided in the diet (SD) or drinking water (SW) or both diet and water (SDW), with a control group (C). All rats had free access to food and water for 7 weeks. Energy intake, body weight and body composition were monitored and blood metabolites were determined. Results showed that aspartame ingestion significantly increased body weight and fat mass mainly due to an increase in energy efficiency. The effect was related to the amount rather than the form of ingestion. Additionally, aspartame ingestion was associated with glucose intolerance. Sucralose ingestion had a similar impact to that of aspartame though to a lesser extent. In conclusion, 7-week ingestion of aspartame and sucralose had adverse effects on body measures that were not related to the form of ingestion.
Highlights
The ingestion of non-caloric sweeteners (NCS) from food and/or drink was intended to reduce caloric intake without compromising palatability
Body weight gain increased with time (P = 0·001) and showed a significant difference between groups (P = 0·001); it was found significantly higher in the ADW group as compared with the control group (Fig. 1(a))
Lean body mass gain was significantly different according to time (P = 0·001) and groups (P = 0·019), with that of group ADW found lower than the control group but higher than that of group AW (Fig. 1(c))
Summary
The ingestion of non-caloric sweeteners (NCS) from food and/or drink was intended to reduce caloric intake without compromising palatability. 7-week ingestion of aspartame and sucralose had adverse effects on body measures that were not related to the form of ingestion. Some long-term studies showed a positive dose–response association between artificially sweetened beverages consumption with weight gain, incidence of type 2 diabetes and incidence of CVD[10,11]. These findings were proposed to relate to disturbances in the association between sweetness and energy intake. We investigated, over a 7-week experimental period, the effect of NCS (aspartame and sucralose) ingestion from the diet (solid) and/or drinking beverages (liquid) on energy balance, body composition, and measures of metabolism in male Sprague Dawley rats
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