Popular diet soda ingredient tied to gut bacteria changes passed down across generations: study

Artificial sweeteners, present in everything from sugar-free snacks to diet sodas, are a staple for many trying to lose weight.But new research suggests the substances could have multigenerational effects, potentially altering metabolism in future generations even without direct consumption.The findings raise questions about the long-term biological effects of widely used sugar substitutes, particularly as consumption has surged in recent years.In a study published in the journal Frontiers in Nutrition, Chilean researchers found that mice given sucralose or stevia passed on changes in metabolism-related genes to their children and grandchildren even when later generations did not consume the sweeteners.The findings suggest the sweeteners may have triggered changes in gut bacteria and gene activity that were then passed down across generations of the mice.While they do not prove the same thing happens in humans, the study adds to a body of research examining whether non-nutritive sweeteners really have no effect on the body, as many people believe.“When we compared generations, these effects were generally strongest in the first generation and tended to decrease in the second generation,” lead author Francisca Concha Celume of the Universidad de Chile said in a statement.The researchers divided 47 male and female mice into three groups. One group received plain water, another received water with sucralose and a third received water with stevia.

The doses reflected amounts humans might typically consume, according to the study.After 16 weeks, the mice were bred for two generations.The later generations received only plain water, but researchers still found changes in gut bacteria, lower levels of short-chain fatty acids, beneficial compounds that support metabolism and immune health, and shifts in genes linked to inflammation and metabolism, according to the study.Sucralose, a popular no-calorie sugar substitute, appeared to have a stronger and more las...