A new generation artificial sweetener can not only cause significant damage to the human intestine, but also promote the development of various diseases, including, for example, irritable bowel syndrome and blood poisoning.
A new in vitro study involving experts from Anglia Ruskin University in Cambridge examined how the artificial sweetener neotame affects various intestinal functions and the risk of disease. The results are published in the scientific journal “Frontiers in Nutrition”.
Effects of neotame investigated
The researchers used a model of the intestinal epithelium (Caco-2) and the microbiota (Escherichia coli and Enterococcus faecalis) to investigate the physiologically relevant exposure to neotame.
The team found that neotame can cause intestinal bacteria to become pathological and invade the intestinal wall. This in turn can lead to health problems and illnesses (e.g. irritable bowel syndrome and sepsis), but also to the breakdown of part of the intestinal wall (the epithelial barrier).
Neotame can directly damage the intestinal epithelium because the sweetener causes epithelial cells to die, the experts explain. In addition, the intestinal epithelium could also be damaged indirectly through the effects of the sweetener on the bacteria in the intestine.
In the study, the researchers observed a number of pathogenic reactions in E. coli (Escherichia coli) and E. faecalis (Enterococcus faecalis) to neotame. These reactions included, among other things, the formation of biofilms and increased adhesion to and penetration of diseased bacteria into cells, the team explains.
Even at low levels, the influence of neotame on the epithelium-microbiota relationship can lead to poor intestinal health. Experts assume that this can lead to metabolic and inflammatory diseases and trigger insulin resistance.
Other sweeteners also damage the intestines
The current study builds on previous research that has shown that saccharin, sucralose and aspartame, some of the most commonly used artificial sweeteners, can cause similar damage to the gut.
“Awareness of the health effects of sweeteners such as saccharin, sucralose and aspartame is growing, as our own previous work shows,” explains study author Dr. Havovi Chichger in a press release. According to the expert, these sweeteners can damage the intestinal wall and also the healthy bacteria in the intestinal flora.
“This can lead to a number of potential health problems, including diarrhea, intestinal inflammation and even infections such as septicemia if the bacteria enter the bloodstream,” emphasizes Dr. Chichger.
This makes it clear how important it is to also investigate newer sweeteners. In fact, the current study shows that neotame causes similar problems, including affecting gut bacteria. “It is crucial to understand the effects of these pathogenic changes in the intestinal flora,” summarizes the doctor. (as)
