Researchers at Baylor College of Medicine have just released a new study which supports the use of low calorie sweeteners for people who are obese or who are suffering with diabetes. Previously studies have suggested that the use of low calorie sweeteners in diabetics could cause weight gain because of the effect of increasing oversensitivity which caused increased hormonal secretion. The belief was that low calorie sweeteners would increase sugar absorption during meals. This would lead to weight gain and other issues.
Baylor researchers noted that human studies have not supported these finding and that low calorie sweeteners have no effect on gut hormone secretion. [1] In addition a recent review by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics reported that low calorie sweeteners have not been found to affect the glycemic responses in people with type 2 diabetes. [2]
The study notes that low calorie sweeteners offer a practical method for promoting a reduction in caloric intake. In addition they offer a way to combat excessive weight gain in at risk individuals. The advantage of eating foods that contain low calorie sweeteners is it simply offers an alternative to people are obese by allowing them to make a simple dietary change. Making changes in dietary habits as small as 100 calories per day have been shown to help reverse trends in the obesity epidemic.[3]
[1] Johnston Craig, PhD, Stevens Brian, BSc , Foreyt John P., PhD, The role of Low-calorie Sweeteners in Diabetes, US Endocrinology, 2013;9(1):13-15
[2] Franz MJ, Powers MA, Leontos C, et al., The evidence for medical nutrition therapy for type 1 and type 2 diabetes in adults, J Am Diet Assoc, 2010;110: 1852-89.
[3] Hill Jo, Can a small changes approach help address the obesity epidemic? A report on the joint task force of the American Society of Nutrition, Institute of Food Technologies, and Institute of Food Technologies, and International Food Information Council, Am J Clin. Nutrition, 2009;89:1723-8.
