Negative effects of artificial sweeteners may pass on to offsprings: Study

Negative effects of artificial sweeteners, such as sucralose and stevia, on the gut microbiome and gene expression may pass on to the next generation, according to a study in mice.

Studies have linked artificial sweeteners with gastrointestinal and neurological issues, including headache, and with metabolic conditions such as cardiovascular risk and diabetes.

"We found it intriguing that despite the growing consumption of these additives, the prevalence of obesity and metabolic disorders such as insulin resistance has not declined," lead author Francisca Concha Celume of the University of Chile said.

"This does not mean that sweeteners are responsible for these trends, but it raises the question of whether they influence metabolism in ways we do not yet fully understand," Concha said.

The study, published in the journal Frontiers in Nutrition, divided 47 male and female mice into three groups, each of which received either plain water or water with a dose of sucralose or stevia, comparable to the amount a human might consume as part of a normal diet. The groups of mice were then bred for two consecutive generations, both of which received plain water.

Each generation received a test for glucose oral tolerance, which tests insulin resistance -- a warning sign for diabetes. The researchers also took faecal samples to look for changes in the gut microbiome and the concentration of short-chain fatty acids.