Credit: Google Images

Artificial sweeteners are laboratory-manufactured sugars that are used in few drinks and foods for sweetened taste.

Saccharin, world’s first artificial sweetener was discovered in 1879 at Johns Hopkins. Initially, the use of artificial sweeteners was limited however, shortage of sugar during World War II attracted more attention towards artificial sweeteners. Moreover, the emphasis of cosmetic industry on slim and smart women urged women to use substitutes for natural sugar [1].

Artificial sweeteners gained more boom after the discovery of next generation of sweeteners such as aspartame [2 ].

These sweeteners are used in variety of food products such as carbonated drinks, frozen food and baby items (such as pedialyte). The diversified presence of artificial sweeteners in food and drinks increase the chances of consumption by general public. IRI Consumer Report (2008) described that around 65 % of Americans bought sucralose-added product which suggests that consumption of artificial sweeteners is much higher.

Credit: Google Images

Effect of artificial sweeteners on weight

Sugar ingestion is related to obesity, increased energy intake and metabolic disorders so, people usually prefer so called “low caloric” artificial sweeteners [3].

Although, beverage industry successfully incorporated the concept of diet colas as healthy food but interestingly, scientific research provided the contradictory evidence [1].

Artificial sweeteners are positively correlated with weight gain. Nurses’ Health Study inspected 31,940 women over the period of eight years and concluded that the use of Saccharin led to weight gain [4 ]. Similarly, the San Antonio Heart Study conducted in 1980s revealed that consumption of artificial sweetener containing beverages increased the body mass index (BMI) in 3,682 adults [5 ].

A prospective study also found the increased BMI in 166 children consuming diet coals over the period of two years [6 ].

In addition, a study involving 11,654 grownups (9-14 years) also linked diet soda and obesity in boys but not in girls. This gender specific role is interesting and needs further investigation [7 ].

Credit: Google Images

Do artificial sweeteners help to reduce weight?

There is also a misconception related to the use of artificial sweeteners and weight loss. A double blind study was carried out to investigate the effects of aspartame on weight loss in 55 overweight adults. Aspartame and control groups were subjected to 1000 Kcal diet per day and both groups lost weight after 13 weeks. The results showed that weight loss occurred mainly due to low caloric diet and aspartame has no significant effect on reducing obesity [8 ]. Similarly, comparison between regular and diet colas produced comparable results in a 12 week intervention program [9 ].

Various other studies also suggested that artificial sweeteners are unable to decrease weight when used alone. However, the combinatorial programs involving artificial sweeteners, low caloric diet, careful monitoring and exercise are useful in this regard [10].

Interestingly, aspartame also increased the appetite and motivation for food. Moreover, saccharin significantly increased the energy consumption and weight in rats as compared to glucose [11 ].

How brain responds to artificial sweeteners

Food activates the reward pathway in the brain therefore, people tend to be happy and satisfied after having their favorite meal. Artificial sweeteners are unable to completely activate the reward pathway that lead to the craving for more food and ultimately cause obesity [12 ].