Consumer Lotion Calorie-free sweeteners make people overweight

Study provides evidence of adverse effects of calorie-free sweeteners

Although many people in sweeteners see a "healthier alternative" to sugar, in recent years, numerous scientific studies have suggested that artificial sweeteners can harm the body. This was also reflected in a recent study by American researchers.

Artificial sweeteners can harm your health

That a high sugar consumption leads to health problems such as obesity, diabetes or tooth decay, is known to most people. Many resort to artificial sweeteners as a supposed "healthier alternative". But these substances are increasingly targeted by nutrition experts and doctors. According to research, sweeteners are harmful to health. Among other things, they can increase the risk of diabetes, as Israeli researchers have discovered. Australian and Canadian scientists also found that such sweeteners can lead to severe hunger and weight gain. Now, a new study by US researchers also provided clues to the negative effects of calorie-free sweeteners.

Experts have long argued that artificial sweeteners are really healthier than sugar. A new study now provides evidence that calorie-free sweeteners can harm the body. (Image: Monika Wisniewska / fotolia.com)

Negative effects of calorie-free sweeteners

"The negative impact of consuming high levels of sugar on general health has long been linked to diabetes, obesity, cardiovascular disease and other health issues," the study said at the weekend's Experimental Biology conference in San Diego was presented.

However, according to the study authors, "the negative impact of eating calorie-free sweeteners instead of sugar has been increasingly recognized as a potential contribution to the dramatic increase in diabetes and obesity".

In animal experiments, researchers led by Brian Hoffmann of the Medical College of Wisconsin have now received new clues as to why artificial sweeteners can not necessarily make them lean and even harmful.

Change in the metabolism

The scientists found in rats and cell experiments that change after consumption of certain sweeteners (aspartame and acesulfame) the metabolism and the lining of the blood vessels unfavorable.

To get their results, the researchers fed one group of rats with sugar and another with sweeteners.

In blood tests three weeks later, they found significant differences in the types of fats and amino acids in the two groups. This indicates that the animals processed fats differently.

In addition, acesulfame accumulated in the blood. According to the scientists, this could damage the cells that line the blood vessels.

Although the body can handle sugar to a moderate extent, but "If this machine is overloaded for a long time, it collapses," quotes the news agency dpa Hoffmann.

Those who rely on calorie-free sweeteners, take changes in fat and energy metabolism in purchasing.

Results not directly applicable to humans

However, according to the medical scientist Stefan Kabisch of the German Institute for Nutritional Research (DIfE) in Potsdam, the animal study leaves many questions unanswered. Moreover, the results are by no means directly transmitted to humans.

The significance is also limited by the fact that only two sweeteners were tested. Means such as sucralose, stevia, saccharin are also widely used "and differ from the two investigated substances in many ways," said Kabisch according to dpa.

Although the new work, as well as earlier studies, evidence that sweeteners can not automatically help with losing weight or even harmful, but the same level of knowledge was not uniform.

According to the experts, in addition to metabolic mechanisms, the eating behavior could also cause one to increase despite a lack of sugar.

"What you save on calories with sweeteners, you put - consciously or unconsciously - with other food again," said Kabisch.

At the current state of knowledge, sweeteners could continue to be used, but the recommendations for the daily maximum dose should be strictly followed.

In the current amounts consumed safe for human consumption

The researchers in the US also warn so far not against moderate sweetener consumption. However, there is no official recommendation to permanently use them for weight loss or sugar saving.

"Instead of replacing sugar with sweeteners, the DGE advises fundamentally to change the diet to" less sweet "," said Antje Gahl of the German Society for Nutrition (DGE), according to the German Press Agency.

The effects of aspartame have been studied in animal and human trials for more than 30 years, according to the European Food Authority (EFSA).

The Authority's experts concluded "that aspartame and its degradation products are safe for human consumption in the current exposure levels," reads the EFSA website.

Acesulfame has also been authorized in the EU for years. (Ad)