Non-nutritive Sweeteners for Metabolic Syndrome
Trial Summary
Will I have to stop taking my current medications?
The trial does not specify if you need to stop taking your current medications, but if you regularly use medication that affects the study parameters, you may not be eligible to participate.
What data supports the effectiveness of the treatment Aspartame-based soft drinks, Regular soft drinks, Stevia-sweetened soft drinks for Metabolic Syndrome?
Are non-nutritive sweeteners like aspartame and stevia safe for human consumption?
Research shows that non-nutritive sweeteners such as aspartame and stevia are generally considered safe by food safety authorities worldwide. Studies have not found significant harmful effects on blood sugar, insulin levels, cholesterol, or body weight, suggesting they are safe for human consumption.14567
How do Aspartame-based and Stevia-sweetened soft drinks differ from other treatments for metabolic syndrome?
Aspartame-based and Stevia-sweetened soft drinks offer a unique approach to managing metabolic syndrome by replacing sugar-sweetened beverages with non-nutritive sweeteners, potentially reducing sugar intake without significantly affecting weight or metabolic parameters. Stevia, in particular, may help with glycemic control and weight management, making it a novel option compared to traditional sugar-based drinks.13578
What is the purpose of this trial?
Increasing evidence suggest that artificial sweeteners such as saccharin, aspartame and sucralose may not be as metabolically safe as they first appeared, and it has been proposed that their consumption may be linked to important disturbances in the gut microbiome. Some in vitro and in vivo studies suggest that the recently approved sugar substitute Stevia (eg. steviol glycosides) can also influence intestinal homeostasis. However, it is not clear whether this natural non-nutritive sweetener (NNS) could also cause metabolic and microbiome disturbances as proposed for their synthetic counterparts. In fact, steviol glycosides may even have a beneficial impact on glucose homeostasis and lipid metabolism possibly through a positive action on intestinal health and gut microbiome, but this has yet to be experimentally tested in a rigorous study.The main objective of this project is to evaluate whether steviol glycosides sweetened beverages (SGSB) or aspartame/acesulfame K sweetened beverages (AASB) exert beneficial, neutral or detrimental effects on metabolic health of regular consumers of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs), and whether modulation of the gut microbiome is involved in the resulting impact of these NNSs on metabolic health.As chronic overconsumption of SSBs is clearly associated with an increased cardiometabolic risk, this study will be the first to determine the metabolic impact of replacing SSBs by potentially "healthier alternatives" such as the increasingly popular stevia-based soft drinks and aspartame-based soft drinks. The investigators will further investigate whether these NNS can cause pernicious effects on intestinal health and the gut microbiome. It is a crucial concern since the importance of this unsuspected key "organ" has been ignored for too long and its important implication in many chronic societal diseases has just been discovered.Results of this study could have a direct influence on health, nutrition and even agricultural policies as well as dietary guidelines around the world. This project is also critically important as an increasing amount of health professionals such as physicians, nurses and registered dietitians seek to provide evidenced-based guidance to individuals looking for healthier alternatives to SSBs including stevia-based or aspartame-based soft drinks.
Research Team
Marie-Claude Vohl
Principal Investigator
Laval University
Eligibility Criteria
This trial is for men and women who are generally healthy and regularly consume soft drinks, ranging from 4 cans a week up to 4 cans a day. It's not suitable for those with recent surgeries, allergies to drink ingredients, recent antibiotic use, heavy alcohol consumption, or changes in medication or weight.Inclusion Criteria
Exclusion Criteria
Timeline
Screening
Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial
Treatment
Participants consume either sugar-sweetened beverages, artificial sweetener beverages, or stevia-sweetened beverages to evaluate metabolic and gut microbiome effects
Follow-up
Participants are monitored for safety and effectiveness after treatment
Treatment Details
Interventions
- Aspartame-based soft drinks
- Regular soft drinks
- Stevia-sweetened soft drinks
Find a Clinic Near You
Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?
Laval University
Lead Sponsor