EFFECT OF NUTRITIVE AND NON-NUTRITIVE SWEETENERS ON GUT MICROBIOTA OF HEALTHY ADULT INDIVIDUALS

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D. A. EHWARIEME
E. I. ODUM
O. O. WHILIKI

Abstract

There have been growing concerns about the health implication of consuming nutritive sweeteners and this has enhanced the utilization of non-nutritive sweeteners (NNSs) due to their low, or zero calorie content. Their effect on gut microbiota is however questionable. This research intends to determine the effect of NNSs at high and low doses, on gut bacteria population and diversity among healthy human subjects. Three groups of individuals were administered Aspertame (Asp), Saccharine (Sac) and
Acesulfame potassium (Ace-K) at high and low doses based on body weight, for a period of 56 days. Bacteria load and diversity per gram of stool sample was determined every 7 days throughout the study period. A fourth group was administered, Sucrose (Suc), as control. The log CFU/g of stool sample was observed to increase from 3.64 to 3.80, 3.68 to 3.96 and 3.82 to 4.06 at day 0 to 56 for Asp, Sac and Ace-K respectively, at high dose. Bacteria counts however did not increase or decrease with Sucrose administration. Also, the bacteria counts obtained at low or high doses of NNS were not significantly different (P>0.05). Furthermore, bacteria diversity reduced from 7 to 3, 8 to 2 and 8 to 3 at high dose treatment with Asp, Sac and Ace-K respectively, for day 0 to 56. There was no significant difference (P>0.05) in bacteria diversity at high or low dose treatment. This study suggests that NNS intake reduces bacteria diversity of gut, while increasing the population of surviving species. Such dysbiosis raises doubt as to whether NNS intake should still be “generally regarded as safe”.

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How to Cite
EHWARIEME, . D. A., ODUM , E. I., & WHILIKI , O. O. (2022). EFFECT OF NUTRITIVE AND NON-NUTRITIVE SWEETENERS ON GUT MICROBIOTA OF HEALTHY ADULT INDIVIDUALS. NIGERIAN JOURNAL OF SCIENCE AND ENVIRONMENT, 18(1). Retrieved from https://delsunjse.com/index.php/njse/article/view/57
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