Saccharin does not cause diabetes, according to a new study

After all, saccharin can turn out to be a viable sugar alternative.

With sugar for those who are trying to lead a healthy lifestyle Artificial sweetener Saccharin and the like can be confusing. A new study led by researchers at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and Ohio State University School of Medicine found that sugar-substituting saccharin does not lead to the development of diabetes in healthy adults, as previous studies suggest. .. Research results It was published in the journal Microbiome.

“The results of previous studies are not wrong. We did not properly manage the underlying health status, dietary choices, lifestyle, etc.,” said Ohio State University’s assistant professor of biochemistry and pharmacology. Said senior author George Kiriasis. Of research.

“By studying the artificial sweetener saccharin in healthy adults, we isolated its effects and found that, as previously suggested, there were no changes in the participants’ gut flora or its metabolic profile. “

Kirias collaborates with researchers from The Ohio State University School of Food, Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Ohio State University of Arts and Sciences, Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, California, and the Metabolic and Diabetes Translation Institute in Advent Health, Florida. did.

Non-caloric artificial sweeteners are often consumed as a substitute for edible sugar, and saccharin is one of the six artificial sweeteners approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

The authors of the study say that the use of artificial sweeteners has increased dramatically over the last decade due to growing awareness of the adverse health effects associated with sugar overdose.

“Previous studies elsewhere have suggested that artificial sweetener intake is associated with metabolic syndrome, weight gain, obesity, and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. These findings make them The lack of well-controlled intervention studies contributed to the confusion, raising concerns that consumption could have adverse effects on public health, “said researchers in the Department of Biochemistry and Pharmacology in Obesity. Said Joan Serrano, the lead author of the study. State.

Forty-six healthy adults aged 18-45 years with a body mass index of 25 or less completed this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

Participants took capsules containing either saccharin or lactisole (a sweetness receptor inhibitor), or saccharin and either laccharin and lactisole or placebo at maximum daily doses daily for 2 weeks. The maximum permissible daily dose of saccharin is 400 milligrams per day, which is much higher than the average consumer consumes.

In this study, people undergoing acute or chronic medical conditions or medications that may affect metabolic function, such as diabetes, obesity surgery, a history of inflammatory bowel disease or malabsorption, and during pregnancy or lactation. Excluded people.

Researchers also tested the effects of higher doses of saccharin in mice genetically deficient in sweet taste receptors for 10 weeks and found the same results: artificial sweeteners do not affect glucose tolerance, It did not cause significant changes in the intestinal flora or any obvious adverse health effects.

“On the other hand, sugar has been well documented to contribute to obesity, heart disease and diabetes,” said Kirias. “Therefore, given the choice, artificial sweeteners such as saccharin are clearly winners based on all the scientific information we currently have.”

Future research will study each FDA-approved sweetener individually to see if there are any differences in how they are metabolized, the researchers say. Researchers study these substances over time to ensure they are safe for everyday use.