New findings in the journal Frontiers in Nutrition reveal that neotame, a modern artificial sweetener, can harm the human gut by changing healthy bacteria and harming the protective barrier, potentially leading to serious health problems such as irritable bowel syndrome and sepsis. This study further supports previous research on artificial sweeteners, emphasizing the need for more investigation into their safety and health effects. Credit: SciTechDaily.com
Neotame, a recent artificial sweetener, damages gut health by harming bacteria and protective cells, increasing the risk of diseases such as sepsis and irritable bowel syndrome.
New research has found that neotame, a new type of artificial sweetener, can harm the human intestine and cause illness.
The study is the first to demonstrate that neotame can cause previously healthy gut bacteria to become sick and invade the gut wall – potentially resulting in health problems like irritable bowel syndrome and sepsis – and also cause a breakdown of the protective barrier, which is part of the gut wall.
The research, published today (April 24) in the journal Frontiers in Nutrition and conducted at Anglia Ruskin University (ARU), shows that neotame can harm the intestinal cells directly, by causing the death of protective cells, and indirectly, by harming bacteria commonly found in the gut.
The in vitro study identified a variety of disease responses after exposing E. coli (Escherichia coli) and E. faecalis (Enterococcus faecalis) to neotame, which is present in beverages, foods, and chewing gums, including biofilm formation and increased attachment to and invasion of cells by sick bacteria.
Some of the latest artificial sweeteners are 1,000 times sweeter than sugar, requiring less to be added to food and drinks. Despite the smaller amounts used, the impact of neotame on the relationship between protective cells and microbiota has the potential to harm gut health, which could then lead to metabolic and inflammatory diseases like irritable bowel disease or insulin resistance.
This new research on neotame expands on previous work by Dr. Havovi Chichger of Anglia Ruskin University (ARU), which found that saccharin, sucralose, and aspartame, widely used artificial sweeteners, could cause similar harm in the gut.
Artificial sweeteners may help with weight loss and aid people with glucose intolerance and type 2 diabetes. However, this recent study, led by Dr. Aparna Shil of Jahangirnagar University in Bangladesh, and Dr. Chichger, emphasizes the need for further research on the harmful effects of some of the more recently developed artificial sweeteners.
Dr. Chichger, Associate Professor in Biomedical Science at Anglia Ruskin University (ARU) and senior author of the study, stated: “There is increasing awareness of the health effects of sweeteners such as saccharin, sucralose, and aspartame, with our own previous work demonstrating the issues they can cause to the wall of the intestine and the harm to the ‘good bacteria’ in our gut.
"This could cause various health problems such as diarrhea, gut inflammation, and infections like septicemia if the bacteria enter the bloodstream. That's why it's important to study recently introduced sweeteners as well, and our new research shows that neotame can create similar issues, including diseased gut bacteria.
"Understanding the impact of these harmful changes in the gut microbiota is crucial. Our results also highlight the importance of gaining a better understanding of common food additives and the molecular mechanisms behind potential negative health effects.
Reference: "The artificial sweetener neotame has a negative effect on the intestinal epithelium directly through T1R3-signaling and indirectly through harmful changes to model gut bacteria" 24 April 2024, Frontiers in Nutrition.
DOI: 10.3389/fnut.2024.1366409
