Journal of Obesity & Metabolic Syndrome (Jun 2020)

Non-nutritive Sweeteners and Their Associations with Obesity and Type 2 Diabetes

  • Jarrett Walbolt,
  • Yunsuk Koh

DOI
https://doi.org/10.7570/jomes19079
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 29, no. 2
pp. 114 – 123

Abstract

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Evidence linking the excessive consumption of nutritive sweeteners (NS) to adverse metabolic health outcomes has led to an increase in consumption of non-nutritive sweeteners (NNS), particularly among the obese and individuals with diabetes. NNS are characterized by having zero-to-negligible caloric load, while also having a sweet taste. They are utilized as a replacement for traditional NS to reduce energy intake and to limit carbohydrate-related negative health outcomes. However, recent studies have suggested that NNS may actually contribute to the development or worsening of metabolic diseases, including metabolic syndrome, obesity, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. Thus, it is imperative to understand the NNS efficacy and the relationship between NNS and metabolic diseases.

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