The Effect of Artificial Sweeteners on Blood Glucose Response

The purpose of this study is to determine whether the presece of the artificial sweeteners aspartame, saccharin and asceulfame-k affect the blood glucose responses to an orally incested glucose solution.

Study Overview

• Status: Withdrawn
• Conditions: Blood Glucose; Appetite; Intestinal Absorption; Nutrient Sensing; Taste Receptors
• Intervention / Treatment: Dietary supplement: Artificial Sweeteners

Detailed Description

Sweet taste receptors, similar to those located on the lingual taste buds have been located along in the lining of the gut. Recent studies have demonstrated that activation of these sweetness taste receptors, either by sugars such as glucose, fructose, lactose, or artificial sweeteners such as saccharin and aspartame can influence the way nutrients, including glucose are absorbed from the gut into the bloodstream. Studies in animal models have shown that activation of the sweet taste receptors can increase the expression of the sodium-dependant glucose transporter 1 (SGLT1) and glucose transporter 2 (GLUT2) which transport glucose from the lumen into the bloodstream. Thus providing a potential mechanism by which glucose uptake can be regulated. Although artificial sweeteners stimulate the sweet taste receptors, they have little nutritive value, so that when they are consumed in the absence of any other nutrients there is little effect on blood glucose response. However, the effects of consuming artificial sweeteners in combination with sugars such as glucose is unclear. The purpose of this study is to investigate whether the addition of artificial sweeteners to an orally consumed glucose solution affects the rate at which the glucose appears in the blood.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United Kingdom
  • Newcastle-Upon Tyne, United Kingdom, NE1 8ST
    • Brain, Performance and Nutrition Research Centre- Northumbria University

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years to 45 years (Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Healthy subjects
• Aged 18-45 years
• BMI (19-25 kg/m2)
• Weight stable in past 3 months

Exclusion Criteria:

• Smoking
• Females who are pregnant of breastfeeding
• Regular intake of emdication, other than females taking oral contraceptives
• Medical illness
• Gastrointestinal disorders
• Food allergies

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Basic Science
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Crossover Assignment
• Masking: Double

Number of Arms

4

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Placebo Comparator: 45g glucose; glucose water	Dietary supplement: Artificial Sweeteners; A 400mL drink sweetened with 45g glucose and artificial sweetener will be consumed orally
Active Comparator: 45g glucose + 150mg aspartame; glucose water aspartame	Dietary supplement: Artificial Sweeteners; A 400mL drink sweetened with 45g glucose and artificial sweetener will be consumed orally
Active Comparator: 45g glucose + 20 mg saccharin; glucose water saccharin	Dietary supplement: Artificial Sweeteners; A 400mL drink sweetened with 45g glucose and artificial sweetener will be consumed orally
Active Comparator: 45g glucose + 85mg asculfame - K; glucose water aseulfame- k	Dietary supplement: Artificial Sweeteners; A 400mL drink sweetened with 45g glucose and artificial sweetener will be consumed orally

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Blood glucose response	Blood glucose will be determined at baseline and for 90 min following the consumption of the test drinks	90 min

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Subjective appetite	Subjective appetite ratings will be collected at baseline and for 90 min following the consumption of the test drinks	90 min

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Northumbria University
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Nerys M Astbury, PhD, Northumbria University

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start: November 1, 2010
• Primary Completion (Anticipated): May 1, 2011
• Study Completion (Anticipated): May 1, 2011

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: November 22, 2010
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: November 22, 2010
• First Posted (Estimate): November 23, 2010

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Estimate): May 18, 2012
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: May 17, 2012
• Last Verified: May 1, 2012

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Other Study ID Numbers: 34AK1