Artificial sweeteners are toxic to gastrointestinal bacteria

According to a study published in Molecules magazine, the researchers discovered 6 common artificial sweeteners approved by the Food and Drug Administration and 10 sports supplements found to be toxic. Harmful to the gastrointestinal bacteria of mice.

Researchers from Ben-Gurion University of the Negev in Israel and Nanyang Technological University in Singapore tested the toxicity of aspartame, sucralose, saccharine, neotame, advantame and acesulfame potassium-k. They observed that when exposed to just 1 milligram per milliliter of artificial sweeteners, the bacteria found in the digestive system became toxic.

When exposed to only 1 milligram per milliliter of artificial sweeteners, the bacteria found in the digestive system become toxic.

Ariel Kushmaro, BGU's biotechnology engineering professor, said: "This is evidence that the consumption of artificial sweeteners adversely affects the performance of intestinal bacteria can cause many problems. about health".

According to the study, the intestinal bacteria system plays an important role in human metabolism, and artificial sweeteners can affect host health, such as intolerance. glucose. In addition, some effects of new FDA-approved sweeteners, such as neotame, are still unknown.

Some sweeteners have been identified as environmental pollutants.

However, research has shown that mice fed neotame artificial sweeteners have different metabolic models compared to those that are not fed. In addition, some important genes found in the human intestine have also decreased. In addition, higher levels of some fatty acids, fats and cholesterol in mice were fed neotame than in normal animals.

Because of the widespread use of artificial sweeteners in beverages and food, many people consume them without knowing it. In addition to being found to be bad for health, some sweeteners have been identified as environmental pollutants. The researchers also note that they can also be found in drinking water.