Sugar is a hot topic in nutrition.
Cutting back can improve your health and help you lose weight.
Replacing sugar with artificial sweeteners is one way to do that.
However, some people claim that artificial sweeteners aren’t as “metabolically inert” as previously thought.
For example, it’s been claimed that they can raise blood sugar and insulin levels.
This article takes a look at the science behind these claims.
Share on PinterestWhat are Artificial Sweeteners?
Artificial sweeteners are synthetic chemicals that stimulate the sweet taste receptors on the tongue. They are often called low-calorie or non-nutritive sweeteners.
Artificial sweeteners give things a sweet taste, without any added calories (1).
Therefore, they’re often added to foods that are then marketed as “health foods” or diet products.
They’re found everywhere, from diet soft drinks and desserts, to microwave meals and cakes. You’ll even find them in non-food items, such as chewing gum and toothpaste.
Here’s a list of the most common artificial sweeteners:
- Aspartame
- Saccharin
- Acesulfame Potassium
- Neotame
- Sucralose
Artificial sweeteners are synthetic chemicals that make things taste sweet without any extra calories.
What Causes Blood Sugar and Insulin Levels to Rise?
We have tightly controlled mechanisms to keep our blood sugar levels stable (2, 3, 4).
Blood sugar levels increase when we eat foods containing carbohydrates.
Potatoes, bread, pasta, cakes and sweets are some foods that are high in carbohydrates.
When digested, carbohydrates are broken down into sugar and absorbed into the bloodstream, leading to an increase in blood sugar levels.
When our blood sugar levels rise, our body releases insulin.
Insulin is a hormone that acts like a key. It allows blood sugar to leave the blood and enter our cells, where it can be used for energy or stored as fat.
But small amounts of insulin are also released before any sugar enters the bloodstream. This response is known as cephalic phase insulin release. It is triggered by the sight, smell, and taste of food, as well as chewing and swallowing (5).
If blood sugar levels drop too low, our livers release stored sugar to stabilize it. This happens when we fast for prolonged periods, like overnight.
There are theories on how artificial sweeteners may interfere with this process (6).
Eating carbohydrates causes a rise in blood sugar levels. Insulin is released to bring blood sugar levels back to normal. Some claim that artificial sweeteners may interfere with this process.
Do Artificial Sweeteners Raise Blood Sugar Levels?
Artificial sweeteners won’t raise your blood sugar levels in the short-term.
So, a can of diet coke, for example, won’t cause a rise in blood sugar.
However, in 2014, Israeli scientists made headlines when they linked artificial sweeteners to changes in gut bacteria.
Mice, when fed artificial sweeteners for 11 weeks, had negative changes in their gut bacteria that caused increased blood sugar levels (7).
When they implanted the bacteria from these mice into germ-free mice, they also had increases in blood sugar levels.
Interestingly, the scientists were able to reverse the increase in blood sugar levels by changing the gut bacteria back to normal.
However, these results haven’t been tested or replicated in humans.
There is only one observational study in humans that has suggested a link between aspartame and changes to gut bacteria (8).
The long-term effects of artificial sweeteners in humans are therefore unknown (9).
It is theoretically possible that artificial sweeteners can raise blood sugar levels by negatively affecting gut bacteria, but it hasn’t been tested.
Bottom Line:In the short-term, artificial sweeteners won’t raise blood sugar levels. However, the long-term effects in humans are unknown.
Do Artificial Sweeteners Raise Insulin Levels?
Studies on artificial sweeteners and insulin levels have shown mixed results.
The effects also vary between different types of artificial sweeteners.
Sucralose
Both animal and human studies have suggested a link between sucralose ingestion and raised insulin levels.
In one study, 17 people were given either sucralose or water and then administered a glucose tolerance test (10).
Those given sucralose had 20% higher blood insulin levels. They also cleared the insulin from their bodies more slowly.
Scientists believe sucralose causes insulin increase by triggering sweet taste receptors in the mouth — an effect known as cephalic phase insulin release.
For this reason, one study that injected sucralose into the stomach, bypassing the mouth, did not detect any significant rise in insulin levels (11).
Aspartame
Aspartame is perhaps the most well-known and most controversial artificial sweetener.
However, studies have not linked aspartame with raised insulin levels (12, 13).
Saccharin
Scientists have investigated whether stimulating the sweet receptors in the mouth with saccharin leads to an increase in insulin levels.
Results are mixed.
One study found that mouth washing with a saccharin solution (without swallowing) caused insulin levels to rise (14).
Other studies have found no effects (15, 16).
Acesulfame Potassium
Acesulfame potassium (acesulfame-K) can increase insulin levels in rats (17, 18).
One study in rats looked at how injecting large amounts of acesulfame-K affected insulin levels. They found a massive increase of 114-210% (17).
However, the effect of acesulfame-K on insulin levels in humans is unknown.
Summary
The effect of artificial sweeteners on insulin levels seems to be variable, depending on the type of sweetener.
Sucralose appears to increase insulin levels by triggering receptors in the mouth. However, few high-quality human trials exist, and it is currently unclear whether other artificial sweeteners have similar effects.
Bottom Line:Sucralose and saccharin may raise insulin levels in humans, but the results are mixed and some studies find no effects. Acesulfame-K raises insulin in rats, but no human studies are available.
Can You Use Artificial Sweeteners if You have Diabetes?
Diabetics have abnormal blood sugar control due to a lack of insulin and/or insulin resistance.
In the short-term, artificial sweeteners won’t raise your blood sugar levels, unlike high intakes of sugar. They are considered safe for diabetics (15, 19, 20, 21).
However, the health implications of long-term use are still unknown.
Bottom Line:Artificial sweeteners do not raise blood sugar levels, and are considered safe alternatives to sugar for diabetics.
Should You Avoid Artificial Sweeteners?
Artificial sweeteners have been declared safe by regulatory bodies in the US and Europe.
However, they also note that health claims and long-term safety concerns require more research (22/a>).
Although artificial sweeteners may not be “healthy,” they are at the very least significantly “less bad” than refined sugar.
If you eat them as part of a balanced diet, then there is no strong evidence that you should stop.
However, if you’re concerned, then you can use other natural sweeteners instead or just remove sweeteners altogether.