The effect of regular consumption of four low- or no-calorie sweeteners on glycemic response in healthy women: A randomized controlled trial

Abstract

ObjectivesThe aim of this study was to determine the effects of regular exposure to certain low- or no-calorie sweeteners (LNCS) on glucose tolerance and glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) release in healthy individuals. MethodsIt was designed as a randomized, single-blinded, controlled study. Healthy and normoglycemic adults who did not have regular consumption of LNCS were recruited. Participants underwent a 75-g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) at baseline and were randomly assigned to consume 330 mL water sweetened with saccharine, sucralose, or aspartame + acesulfame-K (Asp+Ace-K), or plain water for the control group, daily for 4 wk. Fasting plasma glucose, insulin, GLP-1, and glycated hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) levels and 1-h, 2-h, and 3-h plasma glucose and insulin levels during OGTT were obtained at baseline. The change in insulin sensitivity was assessed by both the Homeostatic Model Assessment Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR) Index and the Matsuda Index. Anthropometric measurements and dietary intakes were determined at baseline. Baseline measurements were repeated at week 4. ResultsOf the participants enrolled in the study, 42 (age, 21.24 ± 2.26 y; body mass index, 20.65 ± 2.88 kg/m2) completed the 4-wk intervention period. There were no differences for glucose, insulin, GLP-1, or HbA1c levels or HOMA-IR scores at baseline or at week 4 when compared with the control group. The area under the curve of mean glucose and insulin values during OGTT were also found to be similar between groups at baseline and week 4. There were also no effects of LNCS intake on body weight, body composition, and waist circumference. ConclusionsThese results suggest that regular consumption of LNCS-sweetened water similar to doses consumed in daily life over 4 wk had no significant effect on glycemic response, insulin sensitivity, GLP-1 release, and body weight in healthy individuals. This trial was registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov as NCT04904133.