An Australian university finds that artificial sweeteners can increase risk of diabetes, but Diabetes UK are sceptical of their findings.
Researchers at the University of Adelaide investigated whether large amounts of no-calorie artificial sweeteners altered the ability of the body to control the level of glucose in the blood. The study was small and the detailed results have not yet been published, but experts said its findings fitted with previous research showing an association between artificial sweeteners and weight gain.
However, Sustain member Diabetes UK are sceptical. “This is a small study with interesting results, but it doesn’t provide strong evidence that artificial sweeteners increase the risk of type 2 diabetes,” said Emma Elvin, a clinical adviser. “We need to see the results of larger trials testing in settings more true to real life before we’ll know more."
“Consuming lots of sugary foods and drinks is very damaging to overall health and can increase risk of type 2 diabetes. We would advise people to reduce their intakes of sugar, and artificial sweeteners could be an option to help some people achieve this.”
The University of Adelaide presented their findings at the European Association for the Study of Diabetes in Lisbon, Portugal. Some of the 27 healthy volunteers who were recruited for the study were given the equivalent of 1.5 litres of diet drink a day, in the form of capsules of two different sweeteners, sucralose and acesulfame K. They took the capsules three times a day for two weeks, before meals. The others in the study were given a placebo.
Tests at the end of the two weeks showed that the body’s response to glucose was impaired. “This study supports the concept that artificial sweeteners could reduce the body’s control of blood sugar levels and highlights the potential for exaggerated post-meal glucose levels in high habitual NAS [non-caloric artificial sweeteners] users, which could predispose them to develop type 2 diabetes,” said the authors.
Type 2 diabetes is linked to obesity and rates of the disease are soaring around the world. Its complications, if it is not controlled, can include blindness, heart attacks and strokes.
Published Saturday 21 October 2017
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